world news  US criticises jailing of Russian opposition leader
Boris Nemtsov was sentenced to 15 days for 'disobeying police'
at rally Boris Nemtsov The Russian opposition leader Boris
Nemtsov being detained by riot police on New Year's Eve.
Photograph: Sergey Ponomarev/AP  The US today expressed "regret
and surprise" over the jailing of a prominent Russian opposition
leader who took part in an anti-Kremlin protest in Moscow on New
Year's Eve.  Boris Nemtsov, a former deputy prime minister, was
detained after the officially sanctioned demonstration and
sentenced to 15 days in prison for "disobeying police". In
total, about 70 people were arrested, with three other leaders
handed short prison sentences.  Small opposition protests are
held in central Moscow on the last day of every month with 31
days, symbolising the 31st article of the Russian constitution,
which guarantees the right to free assembly.  In comments that
are likely to irritate the Kremlin, a White House spokesman said
Washington had been please