BBC: Saturday, 24 November 2007, 13:55 GMT

Russian police have detained opposition leader and former world chess
champion Garry Kasparov.

He and other critics of President Vladimir Putin were arrested as
police broke up a rally in Moscow organised by Mr Kasparov's Other
Russia coalition.

Police moved in when protesters tried to march to the election
commission, which had barred Other Russia candidates from next week's
election.

President Putin's supporters are widely expected to win the 2 December
poll.

Other Russia brings together a broad coalition of mainstream
politicians, leftists and nationalists, all of whom are opposed to the
Kremlin.

Movement growing

About 3,000 protesters attended Saturday's rally, carrying banners and
calling for the country to be rid of President Putin.

In speeches, leaders of the movement bitterly criticised the upcoming
parliamentary election, saying there was no choice for voters.

Attending the rally for the first time was the leader of one of the
mainstream liberal parties - a sign that the movement is growing, says
the BBC's Richard Galpin in Moscow.

The trouble broke out at the end of the rally when about 100
protestors tried to break through police lines.

They began to march to the election commission and were stopped by
riot police.

Mr Putin stands down when Russia elects a new president in March 2008,
as the constitution bars him from seeking a third consecutive term.

He has decided to stand as a parliamentary candidate - which
effectively guarantees him a seat in the next parliament.

The Supreme Court has dismissed an opposition complaint against the
move.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7110910.stm