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Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin says he's confident that Russia will weather the global economic crisis with "minimal losses" and he pledged to maintain rises in social spending.

The Russian Prime Minister faced a barrage of questions about rising inflation and job losses in his first annual question-and-answer session with the Russian people since leaving the Kremlin.

The financial crisis has rekindled fears of the economic shocks of the 1990s, prompting many Russians to desert the rouble to buy dollars. During the three-hour discussion , broadcast live on state tv and radio, Putin hinted that he may return to his old job in the Kremlin, but not before his ally President Dmitry Medvedev's term expires in 2012.

(Reuters.com December 5, 2008)