Tens of thousands of Russians protest for, against Putin's benefits reform

[Rose Siding]

MOSCOW (AP) -- Tens of thousands of Russians gathered in cities and towns across the country on Saturday to protest an unpopular benefits reform and call for the government's ouster, while pro-Kremlin forces organized counter-demonstrations supporting President Vladimir Putin.

The main pro-Kremlin party organized the rallies in favor of the reform and the policies of Putin, whose popularity has been dented by widespread ire over the law scrapping benefits for millions of pensioners and other groups and replacing them with cash payments.

According to the ITAR-Tass news agency, the Interior Ministry, which is responsible for the police, said about 250,000 people across the country took part in demonstrations -- pro- or anti-Putin.
...
Communists and other opposition groups -- which have been shut out of policymaking as the Kremlin has consolidated power and United Russia has gained an overwhelming majority in parliament -- have seized on the public anger and called for the Cabinet's ouster over the reforms.

http://wvgazette.com/section/APNews/News/ap0449n