Possible Putin successor to hold live Web cast

Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, a frontrunner for the presidency next year, will hold a live nationwide Web conference next month - a forum normally reserved for President Vladimir Putin.

Putin's own yearly addresses, shown live on television and the Internet, are closely scrutinized by Kremlin-watchers for clues on major policy shifts and strategic announcements.

The yandex.ru Web portal said Medvedev will field questions from ordinary Russians in a March 5 conference that will also to be broadcast on television.

Medvedev and another first deputy prime minister, Sergei Ivanov, are seen as likely contenders for the top job ahead of a presidential election in March 2008 when Putin steps down.

In contrast to Ivanov, Medvedev is generally viewed as representing liberal factions within the Kremlin. He oversees high profile national projects in the healthcare, housing and other sectors.

Both men are being given opportunities on state television and at officially-sponsored public events to raise their profiles, maintaining suspense over which of them - if either -- Putin will finally endorse to succeed him.

Analysts do not rule out the possibility that another 'dark horse' may be being groomed behind the scenes and may emerge at the last minute as Putin's anointed heir.

With a week to go to the Web cast, hundreds of questions were being posted on the Web site, mainly on regional issues, agriculture and living standards.

One question, from 15-year-old Margarita, read: "I am ... keen to know in what kind of country we will end up living after the 2008 election."