Tens of thousands rally against Putin

Tens of thousands of Russians flooded downtown Moscow on Saturday to demand an end to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's rule, casting a strong challenge to his bid to reclaim the presidency in March.         

Protesters wearing white ribbons and holding placards reading "Russia Without Putin!" and "For Free Elections" marched to a square across the river from the Kremlin where a rally was held.          

Saturday's crowd appeared to be even bigger than two similar rallies held in December, despite temperatures plunging to minus 4 Fahrenheit (minus 20 degrees Celsius).          

The previous rallies  the second of which drew 120,000 people, according to organizers  were the biggest in Russia since the protests 20 years ago that paved the way to the collapse of the Soviet Union.         

The authorities have sanctioned Saturday's march, even though they had rejected the organizers' earlier request to gather just outside the Kremlin.            

Protesters, many bundled in fur coats against the cold, chanted "Putin, go away!" and "Russia without Putin!" Communists and nationalists also joined the protest, waving big flags.           

In an apparent attempt to demonstrate a massive public support for Putin, his backers gathered across town, but their rally only drew about 15,000. Municipal workers, union activists and teachers who showed up there said they came of their own will, but some admitted they had been asked by authorities to attend.

AP