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Russia election: Protesters defy rally ban in Moscow Russia election: Protesters defy rally ban in Moscow
(40 minutes later)
Russian protesters defying a police ban on unapproved rallies in Moscow have been facing off with Putin supporters on a square in the city centre. Russian protesters defying a ban on unapproved rallies have been facing off with supporters of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in Moscow city centre.
Protesters chanted slogans against the ruling party as the Putin loyalists beat drums and chanted "Putin, Russia", and police made arrests. Protesters chanted slogans against the ruling party as the Putin loyalists beat drums and chanted "Putin, Russia".
Police and elite interior troops have been patrolling the city since a rally on Monday over alleged election fraud. Riot police arrested a number of protesters, including veteran liberal politician Boris Nemtsov.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has played down losses by his party. Monday saw Moscow's biggest protest in years against alleged election fraud at Sunday's parliamentary election.
United Russia won Sunday's parliamentary election with just under 50% of the vote, a sharp drop in its support. Mr Putin has played down losses by his party, United Russia, which won but with just under 50% of the vote, a sharp drop in its support.
Correspondents say the result reflects Mr Putin's declining popularity ahead of his bid for the Russian presidency in March.Correspondents say the result reflects Mr Putin's declining popularity ahead of his bid for the Russian presidency in March.
Observers from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) say the election was slanted in favour of Mr Putin's party, United Russia.Observers from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) say the election was slanted in favour of Mr Putin's party, United Russia.
Rival demonstrations Navalny jailed
Live video from Moscow's Triumphal Square, on a major road artery close to the Kremlin, showed crowds of rival demonstrators shouting slogans on Tuesday evening.Live video from Moscow's Triumphal Square, on a major road artery close to the Kremlin, showed crowds of rival demonstrators shouting slogans on Tuesday evening.
The jerky footage, broadcast over the internet by the Russian citizen journalism outlet Ridus, also appears to show police intervening. The jerky footage, href="http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ridus#utm_campaign=synclickback&source=http://www.ridus.ru/news/12602/&medium=9616616" >broadcast over the internet by the Russian citizen journalism outlet Ridus (audio in Russian), also appeared to show police intervening.
Boris Nemtsov, a liberal opposition figure, is said to have been detained at the rally. Correspondents say Mr Nemtsov and other protesters were hauled off to waiting police vehicles.
An opposition politician at the earlier protest, Ilya Yashin, has been jailed for 15 days for disobeying police. On Monday, police made at least 300 arrests and two key figures in the protest were both jailed for 15 days on Tuesday.
Well-known anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny was convicted of obstructing the course of justice and Ilya Yashin, leader of the Solidarity party, was convicted of a similar offence.
The arrest of the two men was heavily tweeted by Russian bloggers, who circulated photos of Mr Navalny and others in custody.
"There is not a single doubt that my case is under the special control of the party of crooks and thieves," he told reporters in court ahead of being charged, referring to United Russia.
The Russian interior ministry has denied any extra security measures in Moscow, saying that police and troop movements in the city were a "rotation".The Russian interior ministry has denied any extra security measures in Moscow, saying that police and troop movements in the city were a "rotation".
Its press service told Interfax news agency that 51,500 police including 2,000 interior troops had been on a state of alert since 1 December, as part of election preparations.Its press service told Interfax news agency that 51,500 police including 2,000 interior troops had been on a state of alert since 1 December, as part of election preparations.
"Statements that extra forces are being drafted into Moscow do not correspond to reality," it said."Statements that extra forces are being drafted into Moscow do not correspond to reality," it said.
Are you in Russia? Are you in Moscow? What do you think of the situation after the election? Send us your comments and experiences.Are you in Russia? Are you in Moscow? What do you think of the situation after the election? Send us your comments and experiences.