200 activists occupy a plaza in central Moscow

[May 11, 2012]  MOSCOW (AP) -- Some 200 activists have camped out in central Moscow to protest the election of Vladimir Putin and arrests of opposition leaders.

Activists on Friday were distributing white ribbons, the protest symbol, and settling in at a plaza on a central boulevard. Street protests in Moscow erupted on Sunday the day before Putin's inauguration. More than 400 people were arrested after the sanctioned rally turned into clashes between the protesters and police. Activists have been staging flashmobs throughout town since Monday, spending nights on the street. Two most prominent opposition leaders were detained Wednesday for disobeying police orders. The protests have been likened to Occupy Wall Street. Thursday night was the first night when no detentions were reported. [Associated Press] Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.