Police in Moscow have detained at least 25 people preparing to participate in an anti-Kremlin protest organized by opposition leader and former chess champion Garry Kasparov.

Plain clothed police officers detain an opposition demonstrator during an anti-Kremlin protest in Moscow, Sunday, 14 Dec. 2008

Kasparov's "Other Russia" movement had vowed to march in central Moscow Sunday despite being denied a permit to hold the demonstration.

The protesters were detained at a Moscow square, where Kasparov had planned to start what he called a "Dissenter's March."

Witnesses say police surrounded the square and grabbed protesters as they tried to enter.  An opposition Web site kasparov.ru said movement co-founder Eduard Limonov was among those taken into custody.

On Saturday, Kasparaov announced a new opposition movment called Solidarity.  He told delegates meeting outside Moscow that he was optimistic about the future of the movement.

Russia's Itar-Tass news agency Saturday dismissed the new grouping, saying it is little more than a "re-branding" attempt by what it called "radical liberals."

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP.