Rouhani, Merkel, Macron wish Putin

TEHRAN, Mar 19 (AFP): Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday congratulated Russia's Vladimir Putin on his "decisive victory" in a presidential election.

Putin, who has ruled Russia for almost two decades, recorded his best ever election performance with 76.67 per cent of the vote, but rejected the possibility of staying in power indefinitely.

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel will congratulate Vladimir Putin on his re-election as Russia's president, in a message that will also raise "challenges" in their relations, her spokesman said.

"I cannot pre-empt the content of the congratulatory message, but I believe that the message will also mention the challenges in Germany and Russia's relations," Steffen Seibert, Merkel's spokesman, told reporters.

Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron wished Vladimir Putin success Monday in "modernising Russia" after his re-election, but urged Moscow to shed light on the "unacceptable" attempted assassination of an ex-spy in Britain.

Macron also expressed concern over the war in Syria, in which Moscow plays a key role as the regime's closest ally, in a carefully-worded statement that steered clear of congratulating Putin directly for his election win.