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Thousands protest in Russian east Thousands protest across Russia
(about 3 hours later)
Several thousand people have held a rally in Russia's Far East, demanding the government resign over the country's growing economic problems. Thousands of people have held rallies across Russia protesting against what they describe as the government's mismanagement of the economy.
The protesters in Vladivostok blamed Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's cabinet for mismanaging the economy and suppressing political dissent. The biggest demonstration took place in the eastern city of Vladivostok, where protesters demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
The rally - which passed off peacefully - was the first in a series of protests expected in Russia on Saturday. In the capital Moscow, police arrested a number of people at an unauthorised gathering by a radical party.
Other recent protests across Russia have been broken up by the authorities. Meanwhile, government supporters also held their rallies across the country.
Such protests were unthinkable just a few months ago as the economy boomed with record high oil prices and as the Kremlin tightened its grip over almost all aspects of society, the BBC's Richard Galpin in Moscow says. Anti-government protests were unthinkable just a few months ago as the economy boomed with record high oil prices and as the Kremlin tightened its grip over almost all aspects of society, the BBC's Richard Galpin in Moscow says.
But now with the economy in deep trouble, there is real fear amongst ordinary people about what the future will hold, he says.But now with the economy in deep trouble, there is real fear amongst ordinary people about what the future will hold, he says.
He adds that unemployment is rising rapidly, as are the prices of basic food and utilities.He adds that unemployment is rising rapidly, as are the prices of basic food and utilities.
'Crisis' Putin's 'policy bankruptcy'
The anti-government demonstration in Vladivostok was called by the Communist Party. In Vladivostok, the anti-government demonstration was called by the Communist Party.
"We can't live like this!" chanted protesters in Vladivostok
"The crisis is in the heads of the authorities, not in the economy!" chanted protesters."The crisis is in the heads of the authorities, not in the economy!" chanted protesters.
The protest was joined by a local group angered by higher tariffs imposed on cars imported to the city.The protest was joined by a local group angered by higher tariffs imposed on cars imported to the city.
The region has thrived on the car import business and the government's decision has led to job losses, correspondents say.The region has thrived on the car import business and the government's decision has led to job losses, correspondents say.
Several anti-government demonstrators were also held in the capital Moscow and cities. In Moscow, police detained a number of members of the radical National Bolshevik Party, including its leader Eduard Limonov.
In Moscow, police detained a number of people taking part in an unauthorised protest by the radical National Bolshevik Party Separately, our correspondent says he witnessed a small group of supporters of former world chess champion Gary Kasparov - who is now an opposition figure - being attacked by unknown masked men before later being arrested by police.
In a separate demonstration in Vladivostock, thousands of supporters of the ruling United Russia held a rally in support of the government. Earlier, about 1,000 supporters of the Communist Party were allowed by the authorities to hold their demonstration in the capital.
Party leader Gennady Zyuganov said the economic crisis had exposed the bankruptcy of Mr Putin's policies.