If no candidate wins more than 50 in the first round. But with many of mr putins opponents unable to run, it seems inevitable that Vladimir Putin will be re elected without the need for that second ballot. Our russia editor, steve rosenberg, is following developments in moscow. Vladimir putin has been in power a long time, right, 25 years almost as president or Prime Minister. And hes expected to win a fifth president ial term. Now, this whole event, this three day event, which starts today, is being presented by the russian authorities almost as a celebration of democracy. The kremlin just a few days ago described russian democracy as the best democracy in the world. Critics of the kremlin would disagree and would say that this poll is neither free nor fair nor transparent. Vladimir putin does not face a major challenge. There are three other candidates on the ballot paper, but his most vocal critics, his fiercest opponents, are either in exile or in prison, which kind of helps you to
campaign in gaza to be stepped up. meanwhile, israeli tanks are reported to be slowly advancing towards the centre of khan younis with reports of house to house fighting in the city. the health ministry in gaza, which is run by hamas, says that 18,000 palestinians have now been killed since the start of the israeli offensive. israel says its ground forces have reached the centre of khan younis in the south of the territory to which many palestinians had fled, on israel s instructions. the head of the un agency for palestinian refugees has described gaza as hell on earth . 0ur international editor jeremy bowen has this report. at al nasser hospital in khan younis, they laid out the wrapped bodies of people killed in the night by israel. at the end of the line was a baby killed on the day she was born. laid across the bodies of her mother and her father. don t cry , he told theirson, mohammed. they are in heaven. gaza has been turned into a living hell for civilians by