Morning re-cap of main news, December 15
* Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora in Moscow to discuss the situation in Lebanon
// Dec. 16, 2006 - 07:15 GMT
Opposition groups to go ahead with protests in Moscow
MOSCOW, December 16 (RIA Novosti) – Russian opposition activists will take to the streets in Moscow Saturday to protest what they see as the Kremlin's backsliding on democracy.
// Dec. 16, 2006 - 07:46 GMT
Moscow hopes UN can reach consensus on Iran soon - FM Lavrov
MOSCOW, December 16 (RIA Novosti) – Russia's foreign minister said Saturday he hopes the UN Security Council will be able to reach a consensus on Iran's nuclear problem before the end of the year.
// Dec. 16, 2006 - 08:14 GMT
Russia plans to open strategic dialogue with Japan next year-FM
MOSCOW, December 16 (RIA Novosti) – Russia hopes its strategic dialogue with Japan will start next year, the Russian foreign minister said Saturday.
// Dec. 16, 2006 - 09:04 GMT
Moscow warns against 'inflaming passions' on N.Korea
MOSCOW, December 16 (RIA Novosti) – Russia's foreign minister said Saturday abrupt moves and deviation from the main issue could stymie the six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear problem.
// Dec. 16, 2006 - 09:59 GMT
Putin Sacked Litvinenko for Bad Character - Russia's DM
Alexander Litvinenko, the former agent murdered in London last month, was an ex-prison guard of such poor character that he was fired from Russia's security agency when it was run by now-president Vladimir Putin, Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov has said.
// Dec. 16, 2006 - 10:23 GMT
Russia's FM Warns Against "Inflaming Passions" on North Korea
Russia's foreign minister said Saturday abrupt moves and deviation from the main issue could stymie the six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear problem.
// Dec. 16, 2006 - 10:32 GMT
Opposition rally protesting Kremlin's alleged crackdown on freedoms
MOSCOW, December 16 (RIA Novosti) – Some fifteen hundred supporters of a coalition of Russian opposition groups have gathered for a rally in central Moscow Saturday, with five times as many police called up to maintain security.
// Dec. 16, 2006 - 11:01 GMT
Russian liberal SPS, Yabloko parties give up unification plans
MOSCOW, December16 (RIA Novosti) – The Union of Right Forces (SPS) has abandoned the idea of joining forces with the opposition Yabloko party, the SPS leader said Saturday.
// Dec. 16, 2006 - 11:31 GMT
About 2,500 Take Part in Opposition Rallies in Downtown Moscow
About 2,500 people took part in opposition rallies in the center of Moscow on Saturday, police spokesman Yevgeny Gildeyev has said.
// Dec. 16, 2006 - 11:52 GMT