In the Russian capital, Moscow, tens of thousands of people have marked the anniversary of the October Revolution of 1917. Most of those on the streets in the city centre were communists, some of whom carried the hammer and sickle flags of the former Soviet Union.

The march ended at the statue of Karl Marx outside the Bolshoi Theatre and, for the most part, passed off peacefully. Interfax news agency reports that 20 demonstrators were arrested. There were also rallies in other Russian cities to mark the anniversary of the revolution.

The anniversary was for decades a national holiday in Russia. Former Russian president Vladimir Putin cancelled the holiday in 2005, to the anger of communists. Since then, Moscow city council has held a military parade in Red Square to mark the day.

photo: Russians mark revolution anniversary (EPA)