Putin says Russia can be one of top five economies

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday Russia could be one of the world's top five economies by 2020 and its economy would have to be strong to withstand external threats.

Putin told the lower house of parliament inflation would not exceed 6.5% to 7.5% in 2011 and said gross domestic product grew by 4.4% in the first quarter of the year. (Reuters)