No new Cold War, but Putin says is not West's yes man - Reuters Africa

* On campaign trail, Putin says no "chill" in U.S. ties

* But Syria shows Russia will not play 'yes man' to the West

* Warns U.S. not to ignore Russia's growing military (New throughout)

By Darya Korsunskaya

SAROV, Russia, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Vladimir Putin said on Friday he sees no new chill in ties with Washington, but warned that Russia would not let the United States gain nuclear supremacy and had no intention of playing "yes man" to the West on global issues.

Nine days before a vote almost certain to hand him a six-year presidential term, Putin was chiseling his image as a tough leader of a resurgent Russia prepared to stand up to the United States when necessary.

After a campaign in which he has rounded on Washington, accusing it of encouraging the biggest opposition protests of his 12-year rule, Putin suggested his rhetoric did not mean there was any kind of new Cold War.

"I don't think there is some kind of chill," he said in a meeting with security analysts near a research centre for Soviet and Russian nuclear weapons programmes.

But Russia's veto of a U.N. resolution condemning President Bashar al-Assad's crackdown of dissent in Syria showed it could take a firm stance against the West when it wanted, he said.   Continued...