Several hundred demonstrators demanding a re-run of parliamentary elections converged on a square in central Moscow for a second weekend of protests against the fraud-tainted vote.

The turnout in Bolotnaya Square was far smaller than the tens of thousands who thronged there last week as part of nationwide protests that were the largest show of public anger in post-Soviet Russia.

The comparatively small crowd underlined that opposition forces face the challenge of trying to repeatedly assemble crowds large enough to keep up pressure on authorities. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin last week effectively rejected calls to re-run the December 4 election that chose members of the State Duma, the lower house of parliament.

The new Duma is to have its opening session on Wednesday.

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