Clinton: We are ready to work with Putin

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says that Vladimir Putin was the clear winner of Russia’s presidential election, and the United States is prepared to work with him. In a press conference with Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski, Clinton also urged Russia to investigate irregularities in Sunday’s elections. She said the United States also is concerned about the arrest of peaceful protesters in Moscow on Monday. In an earlier statement Monday, the State Department congratulated the Russian people but did not mention Putin by name. The State Department later explained that the omission was because the vote had not yet been certified. Putin won with nearly 64 percent of the ballot. But independent observers said the vote was marred by massive violations.