Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said...

Asked during an annual televised phone-in question and answer session whether he would like to quit politics and start living his own life, Putin said: "Don"t hold your breath."

Commenting on whether he will run for presidency in 2012, Putin said: "I will think - there"s still plenty of time."

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who was in Rome for Russian-Italian talks on Thursday, said there was the same possibility on his part.

"I would like to say I also could [run in 2012 election]," Medvedev told journalists.

Both politicians faced a similar question at a Valdai International Discussion Club meeting in September. Medvedev then refused to rule anything out, while Putin told the forum that the two would not be rivals for the post.

Putin described as good relations with Medvedev, something that he said helped them work well together.

The Medvedev-Putin ruling tandem was established after Medvedev was inaugurated in May 2008. Medvedev

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