NOVOSIBIRSK, March 28. /ITAR-TASS/. Representatives of opposition forces on Friday decided to withdraw from Novosibirsk mayoral elections in favor of Anatoly Lokot, a State Duma deputy from the Communist Party.

The decision was taken during a meeting of Lokot, Ilya Ponomaryov (who is a candidate from the party Alliance of Greens and Social Democrats), former Russian deputy economy minister Ivan Starikov (Civil Initiative), leader of the regional organization of the Patriots of Russia party Alexander Mukharytsin, Alexei Yuzhanin (the Party of Spiritual Transformation of Russia) and Roman Starikov (Communists of Russia).

"Ivan Starikov confirmed his readiness to withdraw in favor of Lokot. I also confirm my readiness to abide by the agreement on a single candidate, but I believe that aside from the structure of the mayor's office, there should be a common programme. Along with uniting around one candidate, we turn over our organizational resources, observers, mobile reception rooms and etc. to him," Ponomaryov blogged during the meeting. Yuzhanin, Mukharytsin and Roman Starikov we also ready to follow the agreement, he added.

I believe somebody else may join," Lokot told reporters, adding all the legal formalities were to be completed on March 31.

In accordance with the agreement signed on Friday, the opposition is ready to unite efforts to support the candidate, protect vote results and unite electioneering headquarters to support Lokot.

Opposition activists and members of public organizations on January 20 signed the agreement on joint coordination of activities to participate in the Novosibirsk mayoral elections planned for April 6. They announced they would decide who would be their single candidate a week before the elections and withdraw their candidacies in his favor.

Before the withdrawal, there were 17 candidates, including Acting Mayor Vladimir Znatkov from United Russia, for the Novosibirsk mayoralty.