Putin says Russian opposition lacks goals, leaders

MOSCOW: Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin accused the political opposition on Tuesday of lacking goals and leaders, in his first comments since tens of thousands gathered at the weekend to protest against disputed parliamentary vote results.

"The problem is that they have no single programme. They have many individual programmes, but no unified one and no clear way to reach their goals, which are also not clear, and there are no people who would be able to do anything concrete," he said speaking to his All Russia People's Front.

He also said that upcoming presidential elections in March had to be "transparent".