Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Saturday...

"If this is necessary for my country and to preserve the policy formed in recent years (I also mean the period when Vladimir Putin headed the state), I do not rule out anything, including running in the [2012] election," Medvedev told the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten.

The Russian leader gave an interview to the paper shortly before his April 26-27 visit to Norway on an invitation from King Harald V.

Medvedev also said that for him to run in the election, "at least the results of my work should be acceptable for our citizens."

Medvedev, Putin"s close ally, succeeded him as president in 2008. The two men then formed a "tandem," with Putin becoming prime minister.

Putin, who along with Medvedev is among Russia"s most popular politicians, has neither ruled out running in the next presidential election.

A recent survey by an independent pollster said Russians think Medvedev and Putin have almost equal chances of becoming the next Kremlin chief after

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