About 50,000 Muscovites, mostly young people and pensioners, gathered Sunday in the center of the capital city to mark the 87th anniversary of the October Revolution in 1917 leading to the founding of the former Soviet Union.

Preceding the rally was a parade which started at 10:00 Moscow time (0500GMT) right after the bell of the Kremlin chimes. War veterans who had defended the Russian capital from Nazi German invasion 63 years ago marched to the tune of the military orchestra.

War veterans march to Moscow's Red Square on November 7, 2004.

Many people who took part in the parade held red Soviet flags, carnations and streamers with written slogans: "87th anniversary of Great October Revolution," "Deeper revolution," "Idea of October Revolution Irrefragable" and "USSR -- our Homeland."

Among the rally paticipants was Russian Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov, who led the left-wing forces, including veteransof World War II, to march to Moscow's Red Square.

Veterans received military uniforms, similar to those worn by troops in 1941, especially supplied for this day.

In an interview with Xinhua, pensioner Malina Ivanowa said: "(Soviet leader) Vladimir Lenin (1870-1924) is a great leader of theproletariat revolution, the October Revolution he led and the Soviet Union he created will never be forgotten."

World War II veterans and members of the Moscow city governmentlaid wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and at the monument to Soviet Marshal Zhukov 30 minutes on the Red Square before the parade.

The march-past was rounded off by the guard of honor company and the military orchestra, and about 4,500 police officers maintained order at the scene, according to Moscow interior service.

The Russian press and TV reported that anniversary celebrationswere also held in many other regions in Russia.

Source: Xinhua