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Russians gear for new mass rallies against vote-rigging Russians gear for new mass rallies against vote-rigging
(40 minutes later)
Russia's opposition is due to hold new mass rallies in Moscow and other cities to protest against what it says were rigged elections on 4 December.Russia's opposition is due to hold new mass rallies in Moscow and other cities to protest against what it says were rigged elections on 4 December.
In the capital alone, organisers say some 50,000 people are expected to gather on Sakharov Avenue.In the capital alone, organisers say some 50,000 people are expected to gather on Sakharov Avenue.
The protesters are demanding a re-run of the poll, which was won by the party of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.The protesters are demanding a re-run of the poll, which was won by the party of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
President Dmitry Medvedev announced political reforms this week, but many demonstrators say it is not enough.President Dmitry Medvedev announced political reforms this week, but many demonstrators say it is not enough.
'On the backfoot''On the backfoot'
The Moscow rally - authorised by the authorities - is being organised by a coalition of opposition forces.The Moscow rally - authorised by the authorities - is being organised by a coalition of opposition forces.
Some 47,000 people have already vowed on Facebook to attend, and another 10,000 say they may join the demonstration.Some 47,000 people have already vowed on Facebook to attend, and another 10,000 say they may join the demonstration.
Among those attending the event will be prominent anti-Kremlin blogger Alexei Navalny, following his release from prison after taking part in another demonstration in Moscow on 10 December.Among those attending the event will be prominent anti-Kremlin blogger Alexei Navalny, following his release from prison after taking part in another demonstration in Moscow on 10 December.
Organisers said that as many as 50,000 people rallied on that day, in what was the biggest anti-government protest since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.Organisers said that as many as 50,000 people rallied on that day, in what was the biggest anti-government protest since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.
The opposition has been encouraged by that success, forcing the Kremlin on the backfoot.The opposition has been encouraged by that success, forcing the Kremlin on the backfoot.
On Thursday, Mr Medvedev proposed to hold direct elections of regional governors and simplify the procedure for registering political parties, but protesters say the concessions do not go far enough, the BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Moscow says.On Thursday, Mr Medvedev proposed to hold direct elections of regional governors and simplify the procedure for registering political parties, but protesters say the concessions do not go far enough, the BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Moscow says.
However, one of the main problems for the opposition is that there is no single leader able to unite it, our correspondent adds.However, one of the main problems for the opposition is that there is no single leader able to unite it, our correspondent adds.
According to the official results of the elections to Russia's Duma, the ruling United Russia party saw its share of the vote fall from 64% to 49%, though it remains easily the biggest party.According to the official results of the elections to Russia's Duma, the ruling United Russia party saw its share of the vote fall from 64% to 49%, though it remains easily the biggest party.
But there is a widespread view, fuelled by mobile phone videos and accounts on internet social networking sites, that there was wholesale election fraud and that Mr Putin's party cheated its way to victory.But there is a widespread view, fuelled by mobile phone videos and accounts on internet social networking sites, that there was wholesale election fraud and that Mr Putin's party cheated its way to victory.
The Kremlin denies the claim.The Kremlin denies the claim.
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