Belarus activists protest despite govt clampdown

Alongside huge pro-democracy rallies in Belarus, more intimate neighbourhood garings are taking place, continuing more than two and a half months of protests demanding resignation of country's authoritarian president.

demonstrations were triggered by official results giving President Alexander Lukashenko 80% of vote in an Aug. 9 election that opposition insists was rigged.

Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus with an iron fist since 1994, has accused United States and its allies of fomenting unrest in ex-Soviet country.

Belarusian activist Anna Koval told British brocaster Sky News that authorities were making it harder to bring supplies to people in detention.

"Many parents come with parcels for ir children and can't give m to m. So y come, queue up, and find that ir child was moved to ar detention center an hour earlier," she said.

On Saturday, women who marched in Minsk carried umbrellas in white and red colors of opposition flag.

y also held placards stating ir professions to underline widespre opposition to Lukashenko's 26-year rule among people of various occupations, chanting “Go away!” as a demand for president's resignation.

Police arrested at least 10 march participants, according to Viasna human rights center in Belarus.

Daily protests in Belarus have continued despite arrests and pressure, peaking on weekends with crowds of 100,000 and more.

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