RUSSIA TO SEE TEST VOTE ON CELL PHONES

MOSCOW, February 29 (RIA Novosti corr. Nikolai Makarov) - Russia will see on Sunday an action called "Understand the Importance of Elections" - the first test vote in the world practice ("primaries" in accordance with the American election terminology) on mobile communications channels.

The president of the Russian Fund of Free Elections - one of the action's organizers, Andrei Przhezdomsky said the aim of the action is to increase the activity of young people and middle class at the March 14 presidential elections.

To take part in the action, people have to send an sms from their mobile phones to [phone] within Sunday, in which they have to indicate the number of "their" presidential candidate in the ballot paper. Sergei Glazyev has been given No.1, Oleg Malyshkin - 2, Sergei Mironov - 3, Vladimir Putin - 4, Ivan Rybkin - 5, Irina Khakamada - 6, Nikolai Kharitonov - 7. Those who intend to vote against all should dial zero.

The action organizers say unfair voting is ruled out, as a special program will receive only one message from one phone number.