In a combative interview with CNN, the Russian prime minister dropped diplomatic protocol to lash out at US criticism of him and his country laid bare in a series of US diplomatic cables made public by WikiLeaks.

Mr Putin dismissed US defence secretary Robert Gates' views on Russia as "deeply misled," said that a US decision not to ratify a key US-Russia nuclear arms reduction pact would be "very dumb," and repeated Kremlin warnings that the world would face a new arms race if Nato did not treat Russia fairly.

"When we are talking with our American friends and tell them there are systematic problems in this regard we hear them say 'Don't interfere with our affairs," he said.

"To our colleagues (in America) I would also like to advise you, do not interfere either with the sovereign choice of the Russian people."
 

The Kremlin had previously laughed off the leaked cables' contents but Mr Putin made it clear he was unamused.

A US diplomat's description of him as 'Batman' and Mr Medvedev as 'Robin' clearly meant to infer that Mr Putin is the more powerful half of Russia's ruling tandem obviously rankled in particular.

Putin and Medvedev

"(This was) aimed at slandering one of us," Mr Putin said without humour.

"This is about our interaction which is an important factor for domestic politics. To be honest with you, we did not suspect that this (criticism) could be made with such arrogance with such rudeness, and you know, so unethically."

Though he insisted it was not a threat, Mr Putin reinforced a warning from Mr Medvedev on Tuesday that the West should be sure to treat Russia as an equal partner when it came to designing and operating a new missile defence shield.

Russia has already presented its own proposals for full co-operation on the project to Nato but has apparently received only a lukewarm response so far, angering the Kremlin.

"If our joint proposals get negative answers and there are new threats along our borders Russia will have to ensure her own security," Mr Putin warned.

"New missile, nuclear technologies will be put in place." Mr Putin's interview with veteran broadcaster Larry King came after Mr Medvedev's lacklustre state-of-the-nation speech on Tuesday and contained much stronger rhetoric.

Russia is bracing itself for further embarrassing leaks from WikiLeaks as early as Thursday. It had previously tried to play down the cables that have been made public so far but Mr Putin's patience appears to have finally snapped. US diplomats described him in the cables as an "alpha-dog," adding that Mr Medvedev appeared pale and hesitant.

The strongest US criticism came from Mr Gates, who told a French colleague that "Russian democracy has disappeared" and that the country had become "an oligarchy run by the security services."

Mr Putin remained typically coy about his own political future, saying that he and Mr Medvedev would make "a concerted decision" nearer the time on which of them would run for the presidency in 2012.

* * * * *

Knowing what little I do of Mister Putin's history, associates and power, I would show him some respect and be very careful to not anger him. Like the "Incredible Hulk", I believe that you would not like to see him angry.

Last I heard, we were slowly disbanding our military, scrapping ships and planes without building new ones, cutting the numbers of troops, freezing their pay, cutting the operations and maintenance budget, scrapping nuclear weapons. We don't dare piss off El Salvadore, let alone a powerful nation like Russia or China. Better send "The Won" to Moscow posthaste to deliver one of his deepest and humblest bows to Vladimir Putin.