Thousands rally in Russian Far East against government

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, (AFP)

Thousands of people rallied in the Russian Far East on Saturday on a day of national protests to call for the resignation of the government amid a mounting economic crisis.

A demonstration organised by the Communist Party in the centre of Vladivostok attracted around 3,000 people after members of other political and social groups joined the action, an AFP correspondent reported. However unlike a similar demonstration in the city last month which was violently dispersed by riot police, the orderly demonstration passed peacefully and the numerous police present did not intervene.

"The crisis is in the heads of the authorities, not in the economy!" and "We need laws about the responsibility of the authorities to the people!" were among the slogans daubed onto banners. The demonstrators also shouted "the government must resign" nd "down with the government." Along with the Communist Party, a local coalition protesting against a government decision to raise tariffs on1 imported cars also took part in the protest. The protest movement against the tariff decision - which had seen its own demonstration forcefully broken up in December - was taking advantage of the Communist Party's official permission to hold the rally.

"More and more people are without work and our savings and wages are losing value due to the fall of the ruble," said Alexander, a member of the car lobby movement, who would not give his last name.

"The measures taken by the government are aimed not at helping ordinary people and small business but big businessmen and bankers."