MOSCOW: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is believed to be paving the way for predecessor Vladimir Putin to return to the Kremlin and further strengthen his grip on power.

Hostile remarks towards the United States gained the most immediate attention when Mr Medvedev delivered his first state of the nation address on Wednesday, but he also proposed amending the Constitution to extend the presidential term from four to six years.

He claimed the change was needed to help the former centre of the Soviet Union's transition to democracy.

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