WORLD BRIEFS

RUSSIA/Protesting Putin

Thousands of people rallied across Russia to denounce the government's economic policy and demand more freedom in a new challenge to the Kremlin reflecting increasing disillusionment and a growing potential for protests. Many participants in Saturday's rallies, dubbed the "Day of Wrath" by the opposition, demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Police did not intervene in the St. Petersburg protest, but they barred protesters chanting anti-Putin slogans from holding a rally in downtown Moscow. City police spokesman Viktor Biryukov said 70 people had been detained for taking part in the protest, which was not authorized by authorities.

CUBA/Quake rattles residents

A moderate earthquake and smaller aftershock rattled houses and nerves in eastern Cuba on Saturday near the U.S. holding facility at Guantánamo Bay. No damages or injuries were reported. The quake, with a preliminary magnitude of 5.6, struck just after 1 p.m. 30 miles south of Guantánamo, the Cuban city adjacent to the U.S base, said the U.S. Geological Survey in Golden, Colo. An aftershock measuring 4.8 shook the same region about 90 minutes later. Neither residents nor Cuban state media reported injuries or damage.

THAILAND/Calls for new elections

A crimson tide of protesters snaked its way through Bangkok Saturday as demonstrators sought to drum up support for ousting a government they call illegitimate. The festive caravan of as many as 100,000 "Red Shirt" protesters is to be followed up Sunday with the group making a giant painting from their own blood, the latest shock tactic in their weeklong campaign to force Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve Parliament and call new elections.The protesters consist of supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by a 2006 military coup for alleged corruption, and pro-democracy activists who opposed the army takeover.