Moscow: President Vladimir Putin called his political foes "jackals" today, accusing them of trying to weaken Russia, in a thunderous attack in advance of December 2 parliamentary elections.

Putin delivered his attack at a sports arena where thousands of flag-waving supporters called for him to remain Russia's "national leader" after his second and, under the constitution, final presidential term ends next year. But it was not clear what formal title he would hold.

The elections have, in essence, turned into a plebiscite on whether he should retain power. Putin, whose approval ratings exceed 70 per cent, cast the parliamentary vote, where he leads the ticket of the dominant United Russia party, as a choice between the current economic boom and the poverty and chaos of the 1990s - rhetoric aimed at getting his supporters to the polls.

Addressing 5,000 backers at the rally, which blended elements of a Soviet Party Congress with the raucousness of American political conventions, Putin suggested his political enemies were working for Russia s Western foes.
"Regrettably, there are those inside the country who feed off foreign embassies like jackals and count on support of foreign funds and governments, and not their own people," Putin said.

He accused unnamed Russians of planning mass protests like those that helped usher in pro-Western governments in Georgia and Ukraine in 2003 and 2004.
"Now, they re going to take to the streets. They have learned from Western experts and have received some training in neighboring republics. And now they are going to stage provocations here," he said.

Source : PTI