Boris Nemtsov Murder: Thousands March in Moscow

Thousands of people are marching in central Moscow to honour opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, who was shot dead on Friday. He was due to lead an opposition march on Sunday but his supporters are instead mourning his death.

President Vladimir Putin condemned Mr Nemtsov's murder as "vile and cynical" and vowed to find the killers.

Mr Nemtsov's allies call it a political killing linked to his opposition to Mr Putin and the Ukraine conflict.

Opposition supporters have been gathering at a point not far from the Kremlin. The first marchers are on their way to the spot on Great Moskvoretsky Bridge where Mr Nemtsov was killed.

Several thousand people are also marching in St Petersburg. Flags and flowers

Moscow city authorities had previously approved a march for up to 50,000 people but organisers said more people might now attend following the murder. There is a heavy police presence, including at the scene of the killing

So far police have estimated a turnout of 7,000, but AFP news agency said more than 10,000 were on the streets.

Many people are carrying the national flag and flowers to lay at the scene of the killing, which is always piled high with tributes. A few were holding Ukrainian flags.

Others are holding placards with slogans such as "He died for the future of Russia" and "They were afraid of you, Boris".

Pro-Kremlin activists from the group Anti-Maidan said they would not disrupt the march. (BBC)