ST.PETERSBURG, Russia — President Dmitry Medvedev of Russia chided officials in the ruling Kremlin-backed party with unprecedented bluntness on Saturday, saying they should stop trying to manipulate elections and learn to win fairly.

The statement was Medvedev's strongest criticism yet of the United Russia party led by his predecessor and mentor, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. United Russia controls parliament and serves as a power base for Putin, who has not ruled out a return to the presidency in 2012.

While unusually direct, Medvedev's statement appeared to be an attempt to respond to opposition criticism of recent local elections rather than mount a challenge to Putin.

Raw tuna in short supply in Hawaii

HONOLULU — For the first time, federal regulators are expected to prohibit the catching of bigeye — Hawaii's favored tuna variety — in waters west of the islands once the fishermen hit their annual catch limit. They're on course to do that around the first or second week of December.

The potential for a shortage has produced anxiety here among consumers, fishermen, wholesalers and retailers.