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Russia election: Police arrest 550 at city protests Russia election: Police arrest 550 at city protests
(40 minutes later)
Police in Russia have made 550 arrests after protests against Vladimir Putin's election as president, with protest leader Alexey Navalny among those held.Police in Russia have made 550 arrests after protests against Vladimir Putin's election as president, with protest leader Alexey Navalny among those held.
They detained 300 people in central St Petersburg out of a crowd of about 800 protesters, according to local police.They detained 300 people in central St Petersburg out of a crowd of about 800 protesters, according to local police.
A further 250 were detained in the capital Moscow, including Mr Navalny, who was later released.A further 250 were detained in the capital Moscow, including Mr Navalny, who was later released.
Foreign states have accepted Mr Putin won on Sunday but observers said the poll had been skewed in his favour.Foreign states have accepted Mr Putin won on Sunday but observers said the poll had been skewed in his favour.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron has phoned Mr Putin to say he is looking forward to working with him to "overcome the obstacles in the relationship between Britain and Russia and build deeper political and trade links", a statement from Downing Street said.UK Prime Minister David Cameron has phoned Mr Putin to say he is looking forward to working with him to "overcome the obstacles in the relationship between Britain and Russia and build deeper political and trade links", a statement from Downing Street said.
The US and the EU have asked the Russian government to investigate the allegations of irregularities.The US and the EU have asked the Russian government to investigate the allegations of irregularities.
Tweeting from custodyTweeting from custody
Mr Navalny, a lawyer who blogs about corruption in Russia, said in a message via Twitter that he was being charged with an administrative offence.Mr Navalny, a lawyer who blogs about corruption in Russia, said in a message via Twitter that he was being charged with an administrative offence.
He seemed to be in good form, and said he was being allowed to see his lawyer and watch his own arrest on TV. He was released a few hours later.He seemed to be in good form, and said he was being allowed to see his lawyer and watch his own arrest on TV. He was released a few hours later.
Earlier, Mr Navalny and fellow leader Sergei Udaltsov both addressed a crowd of between 14,000 and 20,000 people on Moscow's Pushkin Square.Earlier, Mr Navalny and fellow leader Sergei Udaltsov both addressed a crowd of between 14,000 and 20,000 people on Moscow's Pushkin Square.
Mr Navalny said "swindlers and thieves" ruled Russia and only they, the protesters, could stop them.Mr Navalny said "swindlers and thieves" ruled Russia and only they, the protesters, could stop them.
It is believed that Mr Udaltsov had refused to leave the square after the rally and riot police began to clear the area.It is believed that Mr Udaltsov had refused to leave the square after the rally and riot police began to clear the area.
Both men have been previously arrested for their opposition activities.Both men have been previously arrested for their opposition activities.
A parallel rally in support of Mr Putin was held on Moscow's Manege Square, beside the Kremlin, with reports of about 14,000 people attending.A parallel rally in support of Mr Putin was held on Moscow's Manege Square, beside the Kremlin, with reports of about 14,000 people attending.
Andrei Isayev, a senior official in the ruling United Russia party, began the rally with the slogan "Russia, Putin, victory", chanted back by the crowd.Andrei Isayev, a senior official in the ruling United Russia party, began the rally with the slogan "Russia, Putin, victory", chanted back by the crowd.
'Carousel voting''Carousel voting'
Amid claims of widespread fraud in Sunday's presidential election, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) urged Russia to carry out a thorough investigation.Amid claims of widespread fraud in Sunday's presidential election, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) urged Russia to carry out a thorough investigation.
In a statement monitors said that while all candidates had been able to campaign freely, there had been "serious problems" from the start.
"The point of elections is that the outcome should be uncertain," said Tonino Picula, co-ordinator of the OSCE mission.
"This was not the case in Russia. There was no real competition and abuse of government resources ensured that the ultimate winner of the election was never in doubt."
Mr Putin's top officials do not accept that he has been damaged in any way by the allegations of fraud. All the same, things are changing fast in Russia.Mr Putin's top officials do not accept that he has been damaged in any way by the allegations of fraud. All the same, things are changing fast in Russia.
Mr Putin will blame Western interference for the protests but that is a strategy which has diminishing results. His main spokesman told me Mr Putin was really a liberal and was changing as Russia changed.Mr Putin will blame Western interference for the protests but that is a strategy which has diminishing results. His main spokesman told me Mr Putin was really a liberal and was changing as Russia changed.
But that is unlikely to make Mr Putin easier for Western governments to deal with and British officials in particular think he may, if anything, be more difficult and more touchy especially if the protests continue rather than fade away.But that is unlikely to make Mr Putin easier for Western governments to deal with and British officials in particular think he may, if anything, be more difficult and more touchy especially if the protests continue rather than fade away.
Will Mr Putin last out his six-year term? A surprising number of political observers think he will not and it is very hard indeed to think he will get another term after this one.Will Mr Putin last out his six-year term? A surprising number of political observers think he will not and it is very hard indeed to think he will get another term after this one.
In a statement monitors said that while all candidates had been able to campaign freely, there had been "serious problems" from the start.
"The point of elections is that the outcome should be uncertain," said Tonino Picula, co-ordinator of the OSCE mission.
"This was not the case in Russia. There was no real competition and abuse of government resources ensured that the ultimate winner of the election was never in doubt."
Earlier Golos, a leading Russian independent election watchdog, said it had received more than 3,000 reports of voting fraud.Earlier Golos, a leading Russian independent election watchdog, said it had received more than 3,000 reports of voting fraud.
The watchdog said its own exit polls suggested Mr Putin had actually won just over 50% of the vote - a result that would still have elected him in the first round.The watchdog said its own exit polls suggested Mr Putin had actually won just over 50% of the vote - a result that would still have elected him in the first round.
State TV exit polls had given him about 59% of the vote.State TV exit polls had given him about 59% of the vote.
Other allegations, including videos purporting to show evidence of voting irregularities, have been circulating online.Other allegations, including videos purporting to show evidence of voting irregularities, have been circulating online.
There were reports of "carousel voting", with voters being bussed between polling stations to cast multiple ballots, and of people being paid to vote for Mr Putin.There were reports of "carousel voting", with voters being bussed between polling stations to cast multiple ballots, and of people being paid to vote for Mr Putin.
Mr Putin has served two previous terms as president, from 2000 to 2008.Mr Putin has served two previous terms as president, from 2000 to 2008.
He moved into the post of prime minister in 2008 because of a constitutional ban on a third consecutive term as president.He moved into the post of prime minister in 2008 because of a constitutional ban on a third consecutive term as president.
He will return to the presidency in May - replacing his close ally Dmitry Medvedev - and remain in post until 2018, when he could then run for another six-year term.He will return to the presidency in May - replacing his close ally Dmitry Medvedev - and remain in post until 2018, when he could then run for another six-year term.
Are you in St Petersburg or Moscow? Did you witness the protests? What is your reaction to the election results? Send us your comments using the form below.Are you in St Petersburg or Moscow? Did you witness the protests? What is your reaction to the election results? Send us your comments using the form below.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
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