Moscow - A Kremlin bill to extend the presidential term from four to six years was a vote shy of being unanimously approved by lawmakers in its third and final reading Friday in Russia's lower house of parliament.

The bill was backed by 449 of the 450 seat house dominated by pro-Kremlin party United Russia, esaily more than the two-thirds majority needed for constitutional amendments.

While President Dmitry Medvedev launched the draft law, constitutional experts say the law would not apply to him.

Many analysts say he is just a seat warmer setting the way for 12 more years of Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin. Currently serving as prime minister, Putin has not ruled out another presidential term.

Putin backed the term extensions this week but said it was "premature" to say who they might benefit.

Lawmakers in the State Duma also voted to lengthen their own terms to five years from four.

The vote came a little over two weeks after Medvedev declared his intention to push through the amendment in his state-of-the-nation address on November 5. (dpa)