Communists hold rallies around Russia

Activists from Russia's Communist party held rallies across the country on Saturday to protest against what they say was the rigged outcome of December's parliamentary election.

Some 500 party supporters gathered in Moscow.

Party leader, Gennady Zyuganov, who's running run in next year's presidential election, said his campaign will call for the re-nationalisation of natural resources and the re-instalment of the death penalty.

Six candidates intend to run for the presidency in March including Deputy Prime-Minister Dmitry Medvedev, who has received the support of President Putin.