Some 70 protesters were detained on Triumfalnaya Square in central Moscow for taking part in an opposition rally that has not been sanctioned by authorities on the so-called "Day of Wrath", a local police spokesman said on Saturday.

"In all, about 200 people took part in the rallies," he said.

Similar anti-government rallies, organized by the Solidarnost (Solidarity) movement and the Russian car-owners federation, were held in several other Russian cities. The opposition protested against the government's economic policy and demanded more political freedoms.

Members of the car-owners federation blocked traffic on the Garden Ring, one of Moscow's circular roads, on Saturday afternoon, demanding traffic police reform and protesting against high road taxes.

Two rallies took place in St. Petersburg, Russia's second largest city. Police said they gathered some 750 protesters.

About 150 protesters rallied in Kazan, the capital of the Volga Republic of Tatarstan.

The rally in Russia's Far East city of Vladivostok, drew some 1,500 people, according to organizers, but the police put the figure at 300.

Artyom Samsonov, a local opposition leader, told RIA Novosti that the purpose of the rally is "to give a shake to the authorities and boost the solution of social problems in the country."

Representatives of the Maritime Region's local government attended the rally claiming that they were loyal to the protesters.

Deputy governor Alexander Shevelev told RIA Novosti that "the authorities have initiated a proactive dialogue with the opposition forces."

MOSCOW, March 20 (RIA Novosti)