MOSCOW, April 26, SPA -- President Vladimir Putin on Thursday made his clearest rejection yet of speculation that he would try to seek a third term, but gave no hint in his state of the nation address as to whom he sees as his preferred successor, the Associated Press reported. Putin's second, and constitutionally mandated last, term in office ends in 2008 and many observers have suggested he would try to amend the constitution to stay in office; last month, the head of the upper house of parliament proposed making such a change. But Putin has consistently dismissed the idea, and his statement in the speech underlined the point clearly. «The next state of the nation address will be given byanother head of state,» he said. He then acknowledged that many had expected this speech would be his opportunity to openly state which person he wanted to follow him, but instead he drew a laugh by saying «it is premature for me to declare a political will.»--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/444446