Russia's Communist Party leader, Gennady Zyuganov, has become the first candidate to be registered for next month's presidential election.

Mr Zyuganov, runner-up in the 1996 presidential election to former president Boris Yeltsin, is the most prominent challenger to acting President Vladimir Putin.

Mr Putin is expected to register on Saturday.

The closing date for the registration of candidates is Sunday, 13 February, and the polls are due to take place on 26 March.

More than 20 people have so far announced their intention to contest the polls.

Those who are yet to register include the leader of the liberal Yabloko Party, Grigory Yavlinsky and the ultra-nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky.

One prominent drop-out is the former Russian prime minister Yevgeny Primakov.

Fears about rigging

Recent polls have suggested Mr Zyuganov will attract about 25% of the votes, and Mr Putin more than 50%.



At the registration centre, the 55-year-old communist party leader expressed confidence about next month's poll.

"Our chances are good in this election," he said.

He also warned about possible falsification of the next month's election results.

"The current authorities are not capable of running elections honestly," he added.

To register, Mr Zyuganov, like other candidates, was obliged to collect the signatures of half-a-million supporters and the Election Commission had to approve his asset declaration form.

According to the form, he has two apartments and owns two bank accounts with a total of about $650 in them.