War Protestors to March in Moscow

Approximately 100,000 protestors against the Iraq war and the bombings of Russian diplomats are expected to take place in Moscow on Wednesday. Russian political party Yedinaya Rossiya and a number of trade unions will organize the protest.

A spokesperson at the Moscow regional branch of Yedinaya Rossiya told Rosbalt that a gathering of protest participants will take place at 11.30 on Gorbat bridge by the government building and on Smolesnky ploshchad. Then several columns of protestors will walk along the Garden ring road in central Moscow toward the U.S. Embassy on Novinsky bulvar where a meeting is planned. It is possible that members of Leftist parties and other social organizations will also take part in the protest.Approximately 2,500 policemen and Interior Ministry soldiers plan to keep the peace at the protest, according to an Interior Ministry spokesperson. An additional detachment of approximately 200 special riot police will also be on hand.

Special attention will be given for the protection of the U.S. Embassy. Traffic police inspectors will close auto traffic routes along the part of the Garden ring road from the Krimsky bridge to Povarsky street, and adjacent streets, said the Interior Ministry spokesperson.