Putin: Opposition stayed away from meeting

MOSCOW, Jan. 18 (UPI) -- Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Wednesday he wants to talk to the opposition -- but no one showed up for a meeting.

Putin discussed the issue at a meeting in Novo-Ogarevo with news editors, ITAR-Tass reported.

"We invited the abovementioned colleagues recently but they did not show up," he said. "They say 'we want a discussion, but the authorities do not hear us.' We invited them, but they don't show up."

Putin said he has a question he would like answered: "What do they want?"

Large demonstrations have been held in Moscow and other cities to protest last year's parliamentary elections. The protesters say Putin's United Russia Party committed election fraud.

Putin, the former president, is running for the office again.