Protesters have turned out in Moscow (pictured) and towns and cities around Russia denouncing alleged fraud in last weekend's elections to the Duma or parliament. It is the strongest public show of discontent for years.

Some of the first protests were in the far eastern port city of Vladivostok, and protests were also reported in towns in Siberia, the Urals, and as far west as Kaliningrad.

But the centrepiece of the day's protests was in Moscow, where protesters flooded out of metro stations and across two bridges to Bolotnaya Square - on an island just south of the Kremlin - where authorities have given the green light to a large protest.

Communists joined nationalists and liberals to protest against what they say is evidence of widespread ballot-stuffing by Vladimir Putin's United Russia party in last Sunday's polls. They are calling for fresh elections - and in some cases the resignation of Mr Putin himself.

There were scuffles in Russia's second city, St Petersburg - where police bundled several activists away. Hundreds of people have been arrested since protests first erupted at the beginning of the week.

Correspondents say these highly unusual public protests may be the biggest displays of discontent since the dying days of Communist rule.

The image of Mr Putin on this banner has been doctored to make him look older. "2050 - no!" it says. Mr Putin has decided to run for a third term as president in elections in March.