Kremlin defends crackdown

By Christian Lowe

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Kremlin on Monday defended the police's tough action against weekend opposition rallies, saying they had to stop "ultra-radicals" from violating law and order, but the radical opposition vowed to hold new protests.

Germany, currently holding the presidency of the European Union, said earlier on Monday the crackdown on anti-Kremlin protesters and media was "unacceptable" and demanded Moscow explain its actions.

The United States voiced "deep concern" over how authorities broke up the demonstrations, calling it "heavy-handed ... and an emerging pattern of use of excessive force".

The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights said the events "form part of a growing crackdown on opposition forces in Russia ahead of parliamentary and presidential elections in late 2007 and early 2008".

Kremlin deputy spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Reuters: "Taking into account previous experience of actions by the ultra-radicals, the main objective pursued by the police was to ensure lawfulness and order during the conduct of these events.

"The participants of these rallies did not always stick to the parameters which were set for them when they were given permission (to hold the rallies). That was the reason for those measures that were taken by the police."

Russian police detained hundreds of people in Moscow, including chess champion Garry Kasparov, on Saturday as they dispersed an attempt by President Vladimir Putin's opponents to hold "a march of the discontented" near the Kremlin.

Police also took journalists, including German television reporters, into custody, prompting a complaint by the German embassy in Moscow.