MOSCOW, Oct 25, SPA -- President Vladimir Putin toldRussians on Wednesday he would retain political influence afterhe steps down in 2008, but stopped short of defining what rolehe might take on, ACCORDING TO REUTERS Putin, in a live TV phone-in, stuck by his commitment not totinker with the constitution and stay on for a third successiveterm from 2008 "even though I like the work". But he went on: "Even after I no longer have presidentialpowers I think that ... I will be able to preserve the mostimportant thing that is dear to any politician: your trust. "Using this, we can together influence life in our countryand guarantee that it develops in a continuous manner," the54-year-old Putin said. Putin, a former spy now hugely popular in Russia, thoughaccused by liberals of undermining democratic values, has saidhe reserves the right to name the person he wants to succeed him-- making that person's election a virtual certainty in 2008. First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and DefenceMinister Sergei Ivanov are possible successors, although manycommentators say a surprise candidate could still emerge sometime next year. --SPA www.spa.gov.sa/398081