Russian police confiscate newspapers - opposition

ST PETERSBURG, Russia, June 1 (Reuters) Russian police have confiscated 150,000 newspapers which were printed to promote an anti-Kremlin march planned for this month, protest organisers said today.

Kremlin officials have described the protesters as extremists. Riot police have broken up previous protests and one of their leaders, chess champion Garry Kasparov, was stopped from boarding a plane to join a demonstration last month.

The newspapers were printed by the Other Russia opposition coalition to tie in with a June 9 protest in Russia's second city of St. Petersburg. The rally coincides with a major Kremlin-sponsored economic forum in the same city.

''The whole print-run was confiscated by police officers right on the doorstep of the printing house,'' Andrei Dmitriyev, Other Russia's coordinator in St Petersburg, told Reuters.

''The police said they suspected there were extremist views in the newspaper and they would send it for checks which, according to the law, could last up to 30 days.'' Police were not immediately available for comment.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, due to step down next year after two terms in the Kremlin, will host top international political and business leaders at the June 8-10 economic forum in St Petersburg, which is also his home town.

City authorities have turned down an application to hold the march, but the protesters have said they will still go ahead.

The Other Russia coalition, which campaigns for free elections and respect for democracy, represents a minority view in Russia. Opinion polls show most voters back Putin, who they credit with delivering economic and political stability.

Protest organiser Dmitriyev said the newspapers contained nothing that was extremist. ''We are telling the truth about St.

Petersburg ... but the authorities shut us up,'' he said.

REUTERS DS VV1920