Some 70 protesters were detained on Triumfalnaya...

"In all, about 200 people took part in the rallies," he said.

Similar anti-government rallies, organized by the Solidarnost (Solidarity) movement and the Russian car-owners federation, were held in several other Russian cities. The opposition protested against the government"s economic policy and demanded more political freedoms.

Members of the car-owners federation blocked traffic on the Garden Ring, one of Moscow"s circular roads, on Saturday afternoon, demanding traffic police reform and protesting against high road taxes.

Two rallies took place in St. Petersburg, Russia"s second largest city. Police said they gathered some 750 protesters.

About 150 protesters rallied in Kazan, the capital of the Volga Republic of Tatarstan.

The rally in Russia"s Far East city of Vladivostok, drew some 1,500 people, according to organizers, but the police put the figure at 300.

Artyom Samsonov, a local opposition leader, told RIA Novosti that the purpose

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