President tells pro-Kremlin party to boost Internet presence

BARVIKHA (Moscow Region), April 8 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told the pro-Kremlin United Russia party on Wednesday that it needs to make greater use of the Internet in getting its message across.

"Those... who dictate trends on the Internet will have the political force in the future. If a political party fails to engage with the Internet, it will die out," Medvedev said at a meeting with United Russia leaders.

The president also warned of political forces seeking to use the Internet to create tensions in Russia.

"We know the potential the Internet has both for supporting constructive initiatives and for escalating tensions, for those that seek to do this," Medvedev said.

The ruling United Russia party has 315 seats in the 450-seat State Duma, the lower house of parliament. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin became its chairman after stepping down as president early in May 2008.