Medvedev on December 13 told a meeting of the leaders of parties winning seats in the State Duma, or lower house, that the first session will be held on December 21. His announcement follows nationwide anti-government protests against the December 4 vote.  

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will be United Russia's candidate in the March presidential elections. Sergei Mironov, leader of the social democratic Just Russia party, and Russian tycoon Mikhail Prokhorov say they will run against Putin.

United Russia, which has dominated Russian politics for more than a decade, took about 50 percent of the vote and now holds a slim majority in the State Duma.

The Communists, along with the nationalist Liberal Democrats and Just Russia all made strong gains in the vote.

If he regains the presidency, Putin, 59, could serve two more six-year terms and remain in power until 2024. He was first elected president in 2000 and held that post until 2008, when he assumed the post of prime minister due to term limits.

VOA