Russian Premier Vladimir Putin says he will 'think about' another bid for the presidency in 2012. (Misha Japaridze/Associated Press)

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Thursday said he would consider running again for his country's presidency.

Putin, speaking during a question-and-answer show broadcast live on Russia's state television, said in response to a question he had not ruled out a return to the position he held for eight years.

"I will think about it," he said in response to a question during a call-in portion of his television appearance.

Putin's appearance was another chance for the former president to speak directly to the Russian people, and his response added fuel to speculation that he intends to regain the presidency in Russia's 2012 elections.

Putin had to move to the premier's job in 2008 after serving two consecutive terms as president, but he is eligible to run again in 2012. Since his departure, the presidential term has also been extended to six years.

Putin has remained a high-profile figure in Russia. In July, U.S. President Barack Obama met with Putin during a visit to Russia, though protocol did not demand the president visit the prime minister, a sign that many see Putin as still holding the real reins of power in Russia.

His hand-picked successor, Dmitry Medvedev, has also been relatively quiet domestically, and hasn't made a similar public television address since his March 2008 election.

Putin said he feels no rush to consider running again and added he now wants to focus on his job and make decisions without taking electoral considerations into account.

Putin vows 'harsh' response to train bombing

Putin also addressed security issues during his appearance, vowing the Russian government would act "very harshly" to uproot terrorists after a North Caucasus group claimed responsibility for a deadly train bombing last week.

Putin said the government had "enough resolve and firmness" to deal with terrorist threats, which he admitted remained a problem.

Putin's comments came after a group affiliated with Doku Umarov, a Chechen separatist considered the leader of the Muslim extremist insurgency in the North Caucasus, claimed responsibility for Friday's attack, which killed 26 people and injured dozens

Authorities said they found evidence that a bomb caused three carriages of the 14-car Nevsky Express, travelling from Moscow to St. Petersburg, to careen off the tracks Friday night as the train approached speeds of 200 km/h in a rural area.

Top government officials were among those killed. It was the second attack on the train line in two years. A 2007 blast injured dozens but was not fatal.

He also spoke about the country's economy, saying Russia has weathered what it believes was the worst of the economic downturn. The country emerged from the recession in the third quarter, with the country's gross domestic product rising by a seasonally adjusted 0.6 per cent from the previous quarter, though it was 9.4 per cent below the same quarter the previous year.

"We can say with a large degree of certainty that the peak of the crisis has been overcome," he said, adding that the government may still have to spend more money to support the economy.

With files from The Associated Press