Putin take charge of his third term as the protest crack down by police

Putin will take over from Dmitry Medvedev as president after a four-year absence from the Kremlin, in a lavish ceremony that aims to remind the world of post-Soviet Russia's status as a great global power. Medvedev has served as president since 2008 as Putin was constitutionally barred from serving more than two consecutive terms, having become head of state in 2000 following the resignation of Boris Yeltsin.

Few doubted that Putin remained in fully charge as he instead took the job of prime minister, yet analysts say he now faces unprecedented challenges in his third term after mass opposition protests and an explosion in internet use.

Police on Sunday used batons and charging tactics to break up an anti-Putin rally in the centre of Moscow which had been sanctioned by the authorities but had descended into chaos.

More than 400 people were arrested, including three key leaders of the nascent protest movement: anti-corruption crusader Alexei Navalny, liberal leader Boris Nemtsov and ultra-left wing activist Sergei Udaltsov.

Putin, 59, will be sworn in just after midday (0800 GMT), when Medvedev hands him the ceremonial chain of presidential office made up of golden double-headed eagles.

Placing his hand on a copy of the constitution, he will swear to "respect and protect the rights and freedoms of the people and citizens" as well as "observe and protect the constitution of the Russian Federation."

He will also pledge to protect "sovereignty and independence and the security and integrity of the state".

But activists accuse Putin of having sacrificed rights in the pursuit of stability and of having kept Russia's former richest man Mikhail Khodorkovsky in jail for almost a decade for daring to oppose him.

The opposition has vowed to press on with protests, lambasting the March 4 presidential elections, as tainted by fraud and dirty tricks.

Putin won the election with a first-round knockout, winning 63.6 per cent of the vote.

Foreign heads of state are not expected at the inauguration, although the lifenews.ru website reported that former political players such as Italian ex-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, a friend of Putin, and California ex-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger would attend.

Guests at a reception later would be served finest Russian dishes including sturgeon steak and smoked cod washed down by Kremlin vodka and an astonishing 5,000 bottles of 2008 Abrau Durso "shampanskoye" Russian sparkling wine, RIA Novosti reported.

"The inauguration of the president must feel traditional and not change every time there is a new head of state," the head of the Kremlin's management department Vladimir Kozhin told the agency.

"Traditions must be created and preserved," he added.

Although the protest movement has lost momentum and unity since it mustered more than 100,000 people for rallies after December's legislative polls, analysts expect Putin will get a far rockier ride in his new six-year term.

"Vladimir Putin's main problem is that he cannot present Russia with any new ideas other than stability," said Konstantin Eggert, political commentator of Kommersant FM radio.

"Yes, Putin is returning to the Kremlin. But as far as ideas and politics are concerned, his era is already over."

Medvedev, meanwhile, is expected to take on Putin's old job as prime minister but remain largely in the shadows after his presidency failed to deliver initial promises of political and economic modernisation.

An anti-government protest in Moscow turned violent Sunday, with some demonstrators clashing with police after they veered off their agreed-upon route.

More than 250 people were arrested, including leading opposition figure Boris Nemtsov, leftist radical group leader Sergei Udaltsov and popular blogger Alexei Navalny, Moscow police told reporters.

They were among the thousands that descended on the Russian capital for the latest demonstration denouncing Vladimir Putin, the nation's current prime minister who was recently elected to a six-year term as president. He is set to be inaugurated Monday.

As they marched, many chanted slogans such as "Russia without Putin" and "Putin is a thief."

A large number of demonstrators did not follow the route to Bolotnaya Square that their leaders had agreed to with Moscow authorities, instead stopping in front of a line of police and refusing to move.

Protesters clash with police in Moscow

Clashes broke out, with some protesters throwing various objects -- including sticks and at least one flare -- at police.

Authorities responded by "clubbing demonstrators" who briefly broke through police lines, the state-run RIA-Novosti news agency reported. One of its correspondents saw "a male protester out cold after clashing with officers," while another reported eight officers arresting one demonstrator "for the apparent crime of wearing a Guy Fawkes' mask," the symbol of the vigilante hacking group Anonymous.

Twenty officers were injured and three hospitalized in the clashes, according to RIA-Novosti, which added that those charged with assaulting police may face up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Itar-Tass, another official news agency, said four officers suffered cuts and wounds after having stones and bottles thrown at them and reporters.

Police denied that they used tear gas as had been reported, according to RIA-Novosti.

After the arrests, authorities slowly moved forward and moved everyone out of the area.

Many protesters expressed disappointment that the event was not peaceful, with some saying they were angry at those who they felt had provoked a confrontation with police.

Others who faced off with authorities voiced frustration that previous peaceful rallies had done little to forward their political aims.

In March, Putin won the country's presidential election with nearly 65% of the vote, claiming victory amid allegations by independent polling monitors of widespread electoral violations. International observers said there was legitimate uncertainty about the vote, with chess champion-turned opposition activist Garry Kasparov accusing Putin's supporters of "massive fraud."

Putin, the former KGB officer who has worked to both stabilize Russia's economy and curtail dissent, held the presidency for eight years before term limits forced him to step down in 2008.

His election followed a series of anti-Kremlin protests in the wake of disputed parliamentary elections that took place in December.