Tens of thousands march in Belarus capital despite crackdown

Reporters covering the protests have been detained and police have confiscated memory cards from photographers' cameras. MINSK: Tens of thousands of opposition supporters marched through Minsk on Sunday , calling for an end to strongman Alexander Lukashenko's rule amid a heavy security presence and despite dozens of arrests.

A crowd gathered outside Lukashenko's official residence, the Palace of Independence, which was guarded by riot police and special forces personnel backed up by rooftop snipers. Presidential aide Nikolai Latyshenok came out to speak to protesters, but insisted Lukashenko would not negotiate with the opposition.

Columns of protesters walked through the centre, carrying placards and the country's historic red-and-white flag as drivers honked car horns in support. Protesters faced off against armed interior troops and riot police using their shields to block them. Other protesters tried to bypass the police blockades.Meanwhile, more than 360 Belarusian sports figures including Olympic athletes signed an open letter calling for new elections and condemning police violence.On Saturday the foreign ministry withdrew accreditation for journalists from international media, including AFP, the BBC and Radio Liberty / Radio Free Europe.

The authorities have repeatedly shut off Internet access, making it harder for independent media to report from the demonstrations.European leaders have urged Lukashenko to establish a dialogue with the opposition, while Tikhanovskaya's supporters have set up a Coordination Council to organise a peaceful transfer of power.

Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Women march through Belarusian capital calling for Lukashenko to step downSeveral thousand women marched in the capital of Belarus on Saturday waving flags, flowers and balloons in the latest in a series of ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Berlin halts 'anti-corona' rally as European cities protest masksGerman police Saturday halted a Berlin march by thousands opposed to coronavirus restrictions in the biggest of several European protests against ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Thousands protest in Mauritius over dead dolphins, demand resignationsThousands of protesters demonstrated in the Mauritius capital Port Louis on Saturday to demand an investigation into an oil spill from a Japanese ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Belarus revokes accreditations of journalists covering protests for foreign mediaMOSCOW: Belarus has revoked the accreditations of some journalists working for foreign media and covering anti-government protests that erupted ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Belarus police detain at least a dozen protesters in central Minsk, says witnessMOSCOW (REUTERS) - Belarusian police on Sunday (Aug 30) detained at least a dozen protesters who had gathered in central Minsk, a Reuters witness said.. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Source: The Straits Times - 🏆 8. / 63 Read more »

New Indonesian capital one year on: Land demand cools amid COVID-19, but speculators still hoverJAKARTA: “Do you have land to sell?” That was the million-dollar question in Penajam Paser Utara and Kutai Kartanegara last year following ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »