ST. PETERSBURG, November 3 (RIA Novosti) - Police said they arrested three organizers of protests against rising food prices in St. Petersburg after they tried to put up an effigy of a famous politician.

About 500 people gathered in Russia's second largest city Saturday for an action called "March of Empty Pots". The meeting, sanctioned by the authorities, had brought to the streets opposition representatives, with many of them carrying empty saucepans and hitting them with ladles.

Sharp growth in prices has recently affected the whole country. The Russian Statistics Agency said the highest rise was seen in September prices for cooking oil (13.5%), pasteurized milk (9.4%), and other diary products (7.9%). The Finance Ministry has said the annual inflation is expected to top 10% against 9% last year.

The government has been trying to curb growing food prices caused by global and domestic market trends through reducing import duties and seeking an agreement on price freezes with businesses.