Medvedev delays state-of-the-nation speech

MOSCOW, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has delayed his first state-of-the-nation address until next week for undisclosed reasons, a government spokesman said.

Medvedev had been scheduled to deliver the address to both houses of parliament Thursday, although one lawmaker said he and others hadn't received an official invitation to attend the speech, the Moscow Times reported Wednesday.

Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta reported a reason for the delay might be linked to Medvedev's dissatisfaction with the address's content about Russia's financial crisis. Citing a highly placed source, the newspaper said Medvedev apparently did not like the text as prepared and would personally edit it.

While not revealing the contents of his speech, Medvedev has indicated some of the address would include some of the government's priorities for education.