Russia's Medvedev asserts authority ahead of vote

NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia (Reuters) - Russia's DmitryMedvedev lashed out at the United States on Wednesday as hesought to assert his authority at home and abroad three daysbefore a presidential election he is almost certain to win.

Medvedev, President Vladimir Putin's favoured successor, isforecast to win Sunday's election easily, though Putin has saidhe will retain influence as a future prime minister.

A softly-spoken former lawyer who has spent years inPutin's shadow, Medvedev has displayed flashes of steel as hiscampaign nears its climax, possibly calculated to show he willbe as assertive as Putin in standing up for Russia on the worldstage.

In his most strident attack to date on the United States,Medvedev accused Washington of inciting strife in Europe bybacking Kosovo's independence.

"They are putting Europe in a very difficult position ...we understand that America is risking nothing, it is far away,"Medvedev said on a visit to the Russian city of NizhnyNovgorod.

"The saddest thing ... is that the stability and securityof the whole region are being put under threat. All you have todo is put a match to it and the whole thing will catch fire."

Opinion polls predict Medvedev will win at least 70 percentof the vote on Sunday while his nearest rivals trail farbehind. Critics accuse the Kremlin of slanting the campaign bygiving its candidate blanket coverage on state television.

"We have many problems that have not been resolved. Thecountry must move forward," Medvedev said in an addressbroadcast on state television.

"For that we need political stability, for that we needevery day to improve peoples' lives, to develop the economy,reliably protect Russia's sovereignty and defend the rights ofour citizens."

HARD ACT TO FOLLOW

Medvedev has a hard act to follow after Putin, 55,centralised power in the Kremlin and presided over the longestRussian economic boom for a generation.

How well Medvedev can impose his authority -- even on PrimeMinister Putin -- will be key to stability, investors say.

Medvedev's low-key style contrasts sharply with Putin, aformer KGB spy who regularly slams the West and oftencastigates subordinates in public.

But a different Medvedev emerged during a visit to the Uralmountains region of Bashkortostan on Tuesday.

When noise from an open door hindered him from speaking toreporters he snapped at bodyguards: "Eh, you, shut that door,now."

Medvedev has said he and Putin will complement each otherand offered reassurances there will not be conflict.

"I hope that if we continue to work in that set-up,together, this will bring certain benefits to our state," hesaid on Wednesday.

"For me of course this is a high honour and challenge ... Ihope that such emotions are felt also by our president."

(Writing by Denis Dyomkin and Guy Faulconbridge; editing byAndrew Roche)