MOSCOW, Jan. 15 (Xinhuanet) -- Thousands of people took to the streets in Russia on Saturday to protest the government's withdrawal of pension rights enjoyed in the Soviet era.

    In Saint Petersburg, about 1,000 demonstrators blocked a highway between the city center and the airport, carrying banners denouncing what they called President Vladimir Putin's "criminal" reforms.

    They were calling for the maintenance of free local transport passes, health benefits and reduced rates for municipal services for retired people.

    Police said one man was killed by a car trying to force its way through the crowd and three other people were injured.

    Earlier in the day, Putin was still in Saint Petersburg after meeting German President Horst Koehler on Friday.

    Valentina Matvyenko, governor of the city, received a group of protesters and said she had "objectively informed the president ofpeople's reactions to the reforms."

    Also on Saturday, about 1,000 pensioners rallied outside the town hall in Khimki, a large Moscow suburb.

    At least eight protesters were temporarily detained by police and were released three hours later.

    Demonstrations were also held in Kazan, capital of the Tatarstan Republic, Samara and Saratov on the River Volga.

    Since the beginning of the week, the Russian government has been faced with a growing anger over implementation of reforms ending Soviet-era benefits for pensioners, invalids and people in other disadvantaged categories.

    On Friday, the government announced an increase in the basic state pension and further financial compensations, trying to calm public anger. Enditem