Belarus opposition candidate speaks in EU parliament

main opposition challenger in Belarus' disputed presidential election on Tuesday addressed European Union parliament, saying a "democratic revolution" was taking place in her country.

"Hereby, I declare our readiness for negotiations with authorities, we are ready to minate ir negotiators, we are willing to consider mediation of international organisations to facilitate dialogue," Sviatlana Tsikhauskaya told European lawmakers via video call.

"We demand to respect our basic rights, we demand all political prisoners freed, we demand to stop violence and intimidation by authorities," she added.

She spoke a day after police in Belarus detained several leading opposition activists taking part in a wave of demonstrations challenging reelection of authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko in balloting that y say was rigged.

Police also detained at least five of several hundred people who had gared in Minsk's Independence Square on Monday, 16th straight day of protests, and ar five in or cities, activists said.

actions signaled Lukashenko’s determination to stifle massive post-election demonstrations that have entered ir third week.

European Union on Tuesday reaffirmed it's support to a "peaceful democratic transition of power in Belarus."