普京所在的统一俄罗斯党支持率下降

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's United Russia party has seen a sharp drop in support in parliamentary elections.

俄罗斯总理普京所在的统一俄罗斯党在国会选举中的支持率急剧下降。

With 95% of votes counted, the Central Election Commission said United Russia had just under 50% of the vote, down from 64% in 2007.

The vote is being seen as a popularity test of Mr Putin, who is running for the presidency in March.

Opposition parties have complained of violations of election laws.

Russia's only independent monitoring group, Golos, says it has logged 5,300 complaints alleging（宣称，断言） violations of election laws.

'Violations and fraud'

If the result is confirmed, United Russia would lose its current two-thirds majority which allowed it to change the constitution unchallenged.

Nonetheless, party chairman Boris Gryzlov says the party hopes to get a majority in the Duma.

The election commission said the Communist Party was in second place with 19.1% of the vote.

A Just Russia was in third place with 13% and the nationalist Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) had 11.8%, the election commission said.

"We have received thousands of calls from regional offices, confirming massive violations and fraud," said Communist Party deputy head Ivan Melnikov on the party website.

"Throughout the day, it was like receiving reports from a war zone."

The BBC's Steve Rosenberg, in Moscow, says if confirmed, the result will be a significant embarrassment to Mr Putin, three months before he is scheduled to run again for the Russian presidency.

He says opposition parties are alleging widespread fraud, including the stuffing of ballot boxes and voters being offered money.

Mr Putin served as president from 2000 to 2008 but was prohibited by the constitution from running for a third consecutive term.

Golos, whose monitors are not affiliated（隶属，加入） with any party, said its website suffered a cyber-attack. Ekho Moskvy, a liberal radio station, said its website had also been attacked.

Golos - which means "voice" or "vote" - is funded largely by the US and EU.

Prime Minister Putin has accused foreign powers of meddling in election preparations, while Duma members have questioned why a foreign-funded organisation is allowed to monitor Russian elections.

Moscow police said more than 100 people were arrested at an opposition demonstration in the city centre on Sunday.