Russian President says he would soon reveal if he will run in presidential polls next year

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Tuesday he would soon reveal if he will run in presidential polls next year, in possibly his strongest sign yet of his ambition to stay in the Kremlin.
  
"I do not rule out that I will run for a new term, the post of the president. The decision will be taken, and rather soon at that," he said in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV) in comments released on Tuesday.
  
Russia is heading for presidential elections in 2012 and both the 45-year-old Medvedev and his 58-year-old mentor, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, did not rule out standing.
  
"No-one can know the future but I can tell you that as the current head of state, as the president, I of course think about it, I simply must do so," Medvedev said.
  
Medvedev, who spoke ahead of his upcoming visit to China this week, said his decision on whether to run would depend on a number of factors including the current social situation, the elite's political preferences and people's support.
  
"I expect that such an understanding will be formed in the rather near future, I will speak about it," Medvedev said in the interview.