MOSCOW

Russian protesters demand end to Putin’s 12-year rule

Tens of thousands of Russians jammed a Moscow avenue Saturday to demand free elections and an end to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s 12-year rule, in the largest show of public outrage since the protests 20 years ago that brought down the Soviet Union. Gone was the political apathy of recent years as many shouted “We are the Power!”

The demonstration, bigger and better organized than a similar one two weeks ago, and smaller rallies across the country encouraged opposition leaders hoping to sustain a protest movement ignited by a fraud-tainted parliamentary election on Dec. 4.

The enthusiasm also cheered Mikhail Gorbachev, the last Soviet leader who closed down the Soviet Union on Dec. 25, 1991.

“I’m happy that I have lived to see the people waking up. This raises big hopes,” the 80-year-old Gorbachev said on Ekho Moskvy radio.

He urged Putin to follow his example and give up power peacefully, saying Putin would be remembered for the positive things he did if he stepped down now. The former Soviet leader, who has grown increasingly critical of Putin, has little influence in Russia today.

But the protesters have no central leader and no candidate capable of posing a serious challenge to Putin, who intends to return to the presidency in a March vote. Even at Saturday’s rally, some of the speakers were jeered by the crowd.

BAGHDAD

Iraqi security officers held for wave of car bombings

The Iraqi government has arrested four of its own security officers in connection with a devastating wave of car bombs that killed 65 and wounded more than 200 civilians in Baghdad on Thursday, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Saturday.

Al-Maliki did not say whether the four worked for the ministry of the Interior, the Defense ministry or another part of government.

“We captured four security officers related to the last set of bombings,” Maliki told a conference of tribal leaders from mostly Sunni Salahuddin province, where Sunni politicians are seeking to set up a semi-independent region. One of the sheikhs asked him: “Security officers?” He replied: “Yes, security officers.”

Al-Maliki’s disclosure reinforced a conviction long held by many Iraqis, that much of the violence against innocent civilians as well as security officials here is directed by senior political figures, using security guards working for the Iraqi executive branch or members of parliament.

Iraq is in the throes of a major political crisis over allegations that Sunni Vice President Tariq al Hashemi was effectively running a death squad out of his personal security detail.

— From news service reports