Riot police arrested scores of opposition activists yesterday in central Moscow at an unsanctioned rally to defend the right to free assembly.

Activists have been holding monthly protests in the Russian capital, which are routinely denied authorisation and dispersed by riot police, in defence of the constitutional right to public gathering.

Dozens of police deployed in vans around Moscow's Triumfalnaya Square to prevent yesterday's demonstration, which drew 200 to 300 people. They broke up the rally in half an hour, as the crowd yelled "Shame! Shame!"

Moscow police spokesman Viktor Biryukov told the Interfax news agency that around 100 people had been arrested.

"On Sunday, members of the opposition tried to stage an unauthorised protest. Police were forced to arrest the most active participants who were brandishing placards and shouting anti-government slogans," Mr Biryukov said.

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