MOSCOW, November 3 (RIA Novosti) - An official election campaign in printed media, on radio and television starts in Russia Sunday, 28 days before the parliamentary elections set for December 2, an election official said.

Eleven political parties that have been registered to run for the lower house of parliament, the State Duma, will be allowed to publish their campaign materials in the media to be paid for by party campaign funds, said Igor Borisov of the Central Election Commission.

Ten parties also plan to take part in political debates. But the favorite of the race, the pro-Kremlin United Russia, have refused to face their opponents and will use the air time to explain their election program to voters.

The campaign period will close 24 hours before the voting starts December 2.