Russia allows anti-Kremlin march in St Petersburg

ST PETERSBURG, Russia, June 4 (Reuters) Russian authorities have said opponents of President Vladimir Putin can go ahead with a march this week during a Kremlin-sponsored economic forum, protest organisers said today.

The Other Russia opposition coalition is planning a ''march of the dissenters'' in Russia's second city on June 9 to coincide with the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.

Putin will host top bankers, businessmen and politicians from around the world at the conference, which is supposed to underline Russia's new economic clout.

''The authorities have allowed the march but only on the pavement,'' Andrei Dmitriyev, a local leader for Other Russia, told Reuters.

''I think they wanted to avoid a scandal that would have been provoked by banning the march,'' he said.

The authorities had previously said the march should take place outside the city.

Riot police wielding batons beat, kicked and chased protestors at an opposition march in the city on April 15 which drew about 3,000 people.

RIA-Novosti quoted a spokesman for the mayor of Moscow as saying city authorities could not allow a march planned for the capital on June 11 to go ahead.

Other Russia brings together opponents of the Kremlin from across the political spectrum but its demonstrations have remained small.

Putin remains widely popular after presiding over Russia's longest economic boom since the 1970s.

Opponents say he has trampled on democratic freedoms, while supporters say he has brought stability after the chaos of the 1990s.

REUTERS AM BST0032