MOSCOW, March 10 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday that all state officials, himself included, must make public annual data on their income and private assets, including property.

"I believe that such information should be submitted by everyone, including the president of Russia, and the president should publish it annually, just like all government officials," Medvedev said.

The Russian president said the federal and regional authorities should set up special commissions to monitor how often this data is published and to determine which state officials will be required to provide this information.

"Refusal to cooperate with such a commission and ignoring the legal requirements should definitely be grounds for dismissal from state service," Medvedev told a session of a presidential council on tackling corruption.

Medvedev made the fight against corruption one of his top priorities soon after his inauguration last May, signing a decree to set up a presidential anti-corruption council just two weeks after he was sworn in.

He approved a plan to counter the problem in July 2008, proposing that special units be created in every branch of government. In line with the plan, Russian military officers, customs officials, judges and police will also be required to declare their income and assets.