Communist leader demands Kremlin ensure fair election

By Guy Faulconbridge

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's Communist Party leader on Saturday called on the Kremlin to ensure a fair election and said President Vladimir Putin's chosen candidate was dominating air time on state television.

Veteran Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov is the main opposition contender to Putin's favourite, Dmitry Medvedev, who is set to win a sweeping victory in the March 2 election.

Zyuganov said Russia's main television stations, which are mostly dominated by the state, were giving too much air time to Medvedev and not enough time to discussion with other parties.

But he dismissed speculation that he would pull out of the elections, a move that could leave Medvedev competing against a firebrand nationalist and another obscure candidate.

"I will go to the end," Zyuganov told reporters at a party rally in Moscow. "There are forces that are trying to undermine the election campaign and push it into a dead end."

"We have warned the authorities that if they steal votes from the ballot box and steal the right to discuss this on television then they will have to answer for these elections."

The Kremlin is keen that the election is perceived as fair after international observers said last year's parliamentary vote was skewed by interference from the authorities.

Officials deny any bias and say they are committed to holding a free and fair election.