Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday categorically ruled out changing the country's constitution and running for a third term when his current, and last, term ends in 2008.

"First, I will not stand in 2008 for the post of the president of the Russian federation. Second, I think the most important thing for the country is stability. Third, stability cannot be maintained by destabilising the most important law of the country - the constitution. I don't intend to change it," Mr Putin told journalists and analysts.