Russia's Putin says no need to up govt powers: Ifax

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday he saw no need to change the balance of powers between the president and the government to create two centers of authority, Interfax reported.

"It is not expedient to take any powers away from the government or to load more powers (on the government)," Putin told reporters, adding that he was "against cutting the Russian president's powers."

He said it would be inexpedient to have two centers of power and that he was against reform of the Security Council.