Communists start march in central Moscow
MOSCOW. Nov 7 (Interfax) - A march led by Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov and timed to coincide with the 95th anniversary of the October Revolution began in central Moscow to the sounds of a military march, an Interfax correspondent reported.
Several thousand people have joined the march, mostly senior citizens. They are holding banners with the Communist Party and Communist Youth Union insignia. "Walk out and gather on Ulitsa Gorkogo [the old name of Tverskaya street]," an organizer said.
Zyuganov told reporters before the march began that the Communist Party's goal is renewal.
"No problem can be solved without a new course and without a new financial-economic policy," he said.
Zyuganov also praised U.S. President Barack Obama for his election campaign.
"Barack Obama's victory is well deserved, because his program is socially oriented," he said.
The marchers will walk along Tverskaya street towards Manezhnaya Square until they reach Revolution Square, where a rally will be held, drawing some 10,000 participants.
Opposition activist Sergei Udaltsov told Interfax that a large column of left-wing forces, among them Left Front members, have joined the march.
"Our slogans are 'Freedom to Political Prisoners!' 'Stop Reprisals!' 'Stop Persecuting Dissent!'" Udaltsov said.
"Police had initially told us to remove the Freedom to Political Prisoners poster, but we have defended our right to carry it," he said.
