Putin rival may be barred from presidential election

http://www.euronews.net/ Russia's electoral commission appears set to bar a leading liberal opponent of Vladimir Putin from standing in the forthcoming presidential election. Russian media report the body will cite problems with papers registering liberal party leader Grigory Yavlinsky as a candidate. Opinion polls suggest Yavlinsky would have no chance of winning but his absence from the race would boost Putin's hopes of avoiding a run-off vote.