<br>        Inclusion Criteria:<br><br>          -  Patients with mild to moderate hypertension with a mean sitting diastolic blood<br>             pressure (MSDBP) > 85 and < 110 mmHg for non-treated patients. Previously treated<br>             patients with MSDBP < 110 mmHg. Treated is defined as having taken medication until <<br>             2 days prior to Visit 1<br><br>          -  Positive urine spot test with Micral dipstick (detection of urinary albumin<br>             concentration of at least 50 mg/l) at Visit 1 (day -21).<br><br>          -  Confirmation of MAU of at least 2 out of 3 measurements determined in the first<br>             morning urine samples performed at Visit 1 day-21), Visit 2 (day -14) or Visit 3 (day<br>             -7). MAU is defined for male patients as urinary albumin creatinine ratio (UACR) > 2.5<br>             mg/mmol and < 25.0 mg/mmol and for female patients as UACR > 3.5 mg/mmol and < 35.0<br>             mg/mmol at both visits.<br><br>        Exclusion Criteria:<br><br>          -  Evidence of renal impairment as determined by any one of the following:<br><br>               -  serum creatinine clearance < 30 ml/min as determined by Cockroft and Gault<br>                  formula [Cockroft and Gault, 1976] and/or<br><br>               -  serum creatinine > 1.25 x ULN at Visit 1,<br><br>               -  a history of dialysis, or<br><br>               -  a history of nephrotic syndrome.<br><br>          -  Serum potassium values <3.5 mmol/l or >5.5 mmol/l at Visit 1<br><br>          -  Any medical condition which might significantly alter the urinary excretion of albumin<br><br>        Other protocol-defined exclusion criteria may apply.<br>      ;<br>        Inclusion Criteria:<br><br>          -  Patients with mild to moderate hypertension with a mean sitting diastolic blood<br>             pressure (MSDBP) > 85 and < 110 mmHg for non-treated patients. Previously treated<br>             patients with MSDBP < 110 mmHg. Treated is defined as having taken medication until <<br>             2 days prior to Visit 1<br><br>          -  Positive urine spot test with Micral dipstick (detection of urinary albumin<br>             concentration of at least 50 mg/l) at Visit 1 (day -21).<br><br>          -  Confirmation of MAU of at least 2 out of 3 measurements determined in the first<br>             morning urine samples performed at Visit 1 day-21), Visit 2 (day -14) or Visit 3 (day<br>             -7). MAU is defined for male patients as urinary albumin creatinine ratio (UACR) > 2.5<br>             mg/mmol and < 25.0 mg/mmol and for female patients as UACR > 3.5 mg/mmol and < 35.0<br>             mg/mmol at both visits.<br><br>        Exclusion Criteria:<br><br>          -  Evidence of renal impairment as determined by any one of the following:<br><br>               -  serum creatinine clearance < 30 ml/min as determined by Cockroft and Gault<br>                  formula [Cockroft and Gault, 1976] and/or<br><br>               -  serum creatinine > 1.25 x ULN at Visit 1,<br><br>               -  a history of dialysis, or<br><br>               -  a history of nephrotic syndrome.<br><br>          -  Serum potassium values <3.5 mmol/l or >5.5 mmol/l at Visit 1<br><br>          -  Any medical condition which might significantly alter the urinary excretion of albumin<br><br>        Other protocol-defined exclusion criteria may apply.<br>      ;<br>        Inclusion Criteria:<br><br>          -  Patients with mild to moderate hypertension with a mean sitting diastolic blood<br>             pressure (MSDBP) > 85 and < 110 mmHg for non-treated patients. Previously treated<br>             patients with MSDBP < 110 mmHg. Treated is defined as having taken medication until <<br>             2 days prior to Visit 1<br><br>          -  Positive urine spot test with Micral dipstick (detection of urinary albumin<br>             concentration of at least 50 mg/l) at Visit 1 (day -21).<br><br>          -  Confirmation of MAU of at least 2 out of 3 measurements determined in the first<br>             morning urine samples performed at Visit 1 day-21), Visit 2 (day -14) or Visit 3 (day<br>             -7). MAU is defined for male patients as urinary albumin creatinine ratio (UACR) > 2.5<br>             mg/mmol and < 25.0 mg/mmol and for female patients as UACR > 3.5 mg/mmol and < 35.0<br>             mg/mmol at both visits.<br><br>        Exclusion Criteria:<br><br>          -  Evidence of renal impairment as determined by any one of the following:<br><br>               -  serum creatinine clearance < 30 ml/min as determined by Cockroft and Gault<br>                  formula [Cockroft and Gault, 1976] and/or<br><br>               -  serum creatinine > 1.25 x ULN at Visit 1,<br><br>               -  a history of dialysis, or<br><br>               -  a history of nephrotic syndrome.<br><br>          -  Serum potassium values <3.5 mmol/l or >5.5 mmol/l at Visit 1<br><br>          -  Any medical condition which might significantly alter the urinary excretion of albumin<br><br>        Other protocol-defined exclusion criteria may apply.<br>      ;<br>        Inclusion Criteria:<br><br>          -  Patients with mild to moderate hypertension with a mean sitting diastolic blood<br>             pressure (MSDBP) > 85 and < 110 mmHg for non-treated patients. Previously treated<br>             patients with MSDBP < 110 mmHg. Treated is defined as having taken medication until <<br>             2 days prior to Visit 1<br><br>          -  Positive urine spot test with Micral dipstick (detection of urinary albumin<br>             concentration of at least 50 mg/l) at Visit 1 (day -21).<br><br>          -  Confirmation of MAU of at least 2 out of 3 measurements determined in the first<br>             morning urine samples performed at Visit 1 day-21), Visit 2 (day -14) or Visit 3 (day<br>             -7). MAU is defined for male patients as urinary albumin creatinine ratio (UACR) > 2.5<br>             mg/mmol and < 25.0 mg/mmol and for female patients as UACR > 3.5 mg/mmol and < 35.0<br>             mg/mmol at both visits.<br><br>        Exclusion Criteria:<br><br>          -  Evidence of renal impairment as determined by any one of the following:<br><br>               -  serum creatinine clearance < 30 ml/min as determined by Cockroft and Gault<br>                  formula [Cockroft and Gault, 1976] and/or<br><br>               -  serum creatinine > 1.25 x ULN at Visit 1,<br><br>               -  a history of dialysis, or<br><br>               -  a history of nephrotic syndrome.<br><br>          -  Serum potassium values <3.5 mmol/l or >5.5 mmol/l at Visit 1<br><br>          -  Any medical condition which might significantly alter the urinary excretion of albumin<br><br>        Other protocol-defined exclusion criteria may apply.<br>