'March of Dissent' was organized by a coalition of anti-Kremlin factions called 'Other Russia' 

Russian authorities have detained about 170 opposition activists as they tried to take part in a banned anti-government protest march in Moscow.

Witnesses and media reports say opposition leader, former world chess champion Gary Kasparov, is among those taken into custody Saturday outside the capital's Pushkin Square where thousands gathered to demonstrate.

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Saturday's so-called "March of Dissent" was organized by a coalition of anti-Kremlin factions called "Other Russia," led by Kasparov and former Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov.

The activists accuse President Vladimir Putin of rolling back democracy and controlling the media ahead of next year's presidential election.

"Other Russia" has said it does not need permission to hold a downtown demonstration against President Putin.

The opposition coalition is planning to stage a protest Sunday in President Putin's home city of St. Petersburg. Authorities also have declared that march illegal.

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