Main news of December 2

RUSSIA

* With over 47% of votes counted, President Vladimir Putin's United Russia party has garnered 63.2% in Sunday's parliamentary polls, the Central Election Commission announced.

* The Central Election Commission (CEC) said there is no evidence of violations that could call into question the results of the parliamentary elections

* The leader of the liberal Yabloko party, which failed to garner sufficient votes to enter parliament, said the election was plagued by numerous violations

* Russia's Communist Party said all other parties that gained seats in the State Duma at Sunday's election are mere helpers of the Kremlin, and dismissed the results as rigged

* President Vladimir Putin, who headed United Russia's list of candidates for Sunday's parliamentary election, congratulated the party on its victory, the party leader said

* The United Russia party said it will not change the Constitution following its election victory

WORLD

* Iran's top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili will arrive in Moscow on December 3 to discuss the Islamic Republic's controversial nuclear program, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said

* Venezuelans vote in a referendum on Sunday to allow left-wing President Hugo Chavez to be re-elected an indefinite number of times

* Russia will play Greece, Spain and Sweden at the 2008 European Soccer Championship, following the results of the draw conducted on Sunday