The Russian Communist party leader, Gennady Zyuganov, has called for a broad centre-left coalition to oppose acting President, Vladimir Putin, in the presidential elections on March the twenty-sixth.

But Mr Zyuganov dismissed suggestions that he might strike a deal with the former prime minister, Yevgeny Primakov.

The Communist leader was meeting with his supporters to discuss election strategy.

Other political groups held similar meetings today, including the liberal Yabloko party which nominated its leader, Grigory Yavlinsky, as its presidential candidate.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service