Protests Prompt Probe Into Russian Election

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has ordered an investigation into allegations of election violations. 
Mr Medvedev broke two days of silence on Sunday by posting a comment on Facebook to announce the probe into the parliamentary election result on December 4.
He wrote: "I disagree with the slogans as well as with the speeches that were made at the rallies" but added that he had ordered checks into the claims of fraud.
The posting generated a raft of angry comments, including "Shame" and "We don't believe you".
Some Facebook users asked the Russian president whether he really disagrees with the protest's main slogan: "We're for fair elections." 
Others declared that the message had made them even more determined to take part in the next planned rally against electoral fraud, due on December 24.
The probe comes after tens of thousands of people gathered on Saturday in the biggest public protest in two decades and the first ever mass challenge to Vladimir Putin's rule.
The election result, which saw Mr Putin's party United Russia win but with a far reduced majority, sparked claims of unfairness and ballot-box stuffing.
Demonstrators have taken to the streets in dozens of cities across the country, calling for an end to his rule and a re-run of the poll which they say was rigged in his favour.
In a change of tack on Saturday, security forces barely intervened and city authorities allowed the demonstrations to go ahead. State television also broadcast protest scenes in Moscow.
Protesters had demanded a re-run of the election, that the election commission chief be sacked and the release of political prisoners.
Boris Nemtsov, an opposition leader, told Sky News earlier that the protests were a "disaster" for Mr Putin.
"This is the end of his career because thousands of ordinary people, not politicians not from opposition's side but ordinary people, came to the streets because they are very tired about corruption, they are very tired about falsification, they are very tired about bureaucrats," he said.
"If they say everybody is an American spy, what will be our response? We will continue our fight."
Most political experts on Russia say Mr Putin is in little immediate danger of being toppled despite anger at widespread corruption and the gap between rich and poor.
But they say the 59-year-old leader's authority has been damaged and could gradually wane if he returns as president, as expected next March.
Mr Putin was president for eight years until 2008 and has been prime minister since then. He has agreed a job swap with Mr Medvedev so that he will return as president in 2012.