MOSCOW. Oct 8 (Interfax) - Almost 6,000 candidates to the State Duma have been included in the party tickets submitted to the Central Elections Commission. "The latest reports indicate that parties planning to take part in the coming elections to the State Duma have entered 5,792 candidates on their verified tickets," commission chairman Vladimir Churov told a Monday news conference in Moscow.

"United Russia entered the greatest number - exactly 600," he said.

Speaking of the total number of candidates Churov said: "This does not mean that exactly so many candidates will ultimately run in the elections because before submitting documents for registration parties are allowed to expel candidates from the tickets. The Central Elections Commission has the right to do the same at the registration stage."

On the number of candidates listed by other parties Churov said that the Democratic Party nominated the second biggest number of candidates - 578.

Fair Russia listed 556 candidates and the Communist party 515, he said.

The Agrarian Party has less candidates - 477, the People's Union seven less, the Patriots of Russia - 448, the Liberal Democratic Party - 360, the Party of Peace and Unity, and Yabloko - 342 each.

There are 302 candidates on the ticket of the Union of Right Forces, 264 on the ticket of the Social Justice Party, 272 - on the ticket of the Green Party and 266 - on the ticket of the Civic Force.

Churov reminded journalists that a total of 14 political parties will run in the elections.

"The Central Elections Commission believes that the first stage of the election campaign was not marred by significant flaws," he said.

He said that parties should produce documents for the registration of their federal tickets by October 17 and the commission should decide on their registration by October 28.

After October 28 lots will be drawn to distribute the place of parties in the ballots and free time on the air for canvassing.

He said that during the first stage of the election campaign 68 people used their right to self-nomination as independent candidates and 19 of them were included in party tickets as self-nominated candidates.