Putin's party loses ground in Russian vote

MOSCOW -- Russian voters have dealt Vladimir Putin's ruling party a heavy blow by cutting its parliamentary majority in an election that showed growing unease with his domination of the country as he prepares to reclaim the presidency.

Incomplete results showed Putin's United Russia was struggling even to win 50 percent of the votes in Sunday's election, compared with more than 64 percent four years ago. Opposition parties said even that outcome was inflated by fraud.

Although Putin is still likely to win a presidential election in March, Sunday's result could dent the authority of the man who has ruled for almost 12 years with a mix of hard-line security policies, political acumen and showmanship but was booed and jeered last month.

United Russia had 49.94 percent of the votes after results were counted in 70 percent of voting districts for the election to the State Duma, the lower house of parliament.

"These elections are unprecedented because they were carried out against the background of a collapse in trust in Putin, [President Dmitry] Medvedev and the ruling party," said Vladimir Ryzhkov, a liberal opposition leader barred from running.

Putin made his mark restoring order in a country suffering from a decade of chaos following the collapse of the Soviet Union and presided over an economic revival. He has maintained a tough image, and his popularity has fallen but is still high.

But many voters, fed up with widespread corruption, refer to United Russia as the party of swindlers and thieves.

-- Reuters