Russian communist bid to oust government

The Russian Communist Party leader, Gennady Zyuganov, has launched a campaign to gather support for a vote of no-confidence in the government.

Mr Zyuganov, whose party is the largest in parliament, said the government had failed to improve the economic situation. He said the left-wing parties intended to gather the ninety signatures required for the State Duma to hold a vote. The liberal Union of Rightist Forces group, which also accuses the government of failing to carry out the promised reforms, said the Communist move was a publicity stunt.

The prime minister, Mikhail Kasyanov, has come under strong criticism for failing to reach an agreement with the Paris Club of creditor nations to restructure Moscow's massive Soviet-era debt due to be paid in the next few years.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service