Putin to attend Beijing Olympics opening ceremony

RUSSIA: Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, his spokesman said Monday.

Putin, formerly Russia's president, joins a host of world leaders including U.S. President George W. Bush and French President Nicolas Sarkozy who have confirmed their participation in the Aug. 8 ceremony.

Leaders are expected to hold talks during the Aug. 8-24 Games, though Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said Monday that plans were still being worked on.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper are among those who have said they plan to stay away.

A spokesman for Russian President Dmitry Medvedev could not immediately confirm his plans.

Officials in many EU states have called for a boycott over China's human rights record, which was recently highlighted by a brutal crackdown in Tibet.

Moscow, Monday, AP