Medvedev leads Russian presidential election

Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov was left far behind with 18.3 percent. Liberal Democratic Party leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky won 10.05 percent and Democratic Party leader Andrei Bogdanov 1.3 percent, CEC figures showed.

Chairman of the CEC Vladimir Churov declared the election valid shortly after all the polling stations closed.

Putin hailed on Sunday night at the Red Square the victory of Medvedev in the presidential race.

"This victory will be a guarantee of maintaining the course we have chosen together and been implementing together. The course will continue," Putin told a celebration of Medvedev`s supporters at the Red Square.

Medvedev, together with Putin, thanked all people who voted for him and pledged he will continue Putin`s policy.

However, Zhirinovsky refused to recognize results of Sunday`s presidential voting published by the CEC. He vowed to challenge the results in court, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.

"Certainly, we will appeal to court ... I will not abandon my voters, I will stay together with them till the end," Zhirinovsky said.

Zyuganov also said he would appeal to court over alleged election falsifications.

"I have proof to election falsifications and will appeal to court," he was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying.

CEC Chairman Churov said ...