Lukashenko calls on supporters to defend Belarus

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko dressed a rally of thousands of supporters on Sunday, after a week of sizeable opposition protests.

"I didn't call for you to defend me," he told crowds gared outside Minsk's main government building. "You came here to defend your country."

president's supporters chanted "Batka," a nickname given to leer meaning "far," as well as "Maidan won't take place," referring to months of demonstrations in Ukraine between 2013-14 that drove n-President Viktor Yanukovych to flee country.

At same time, anti-government protesters were pouring into a rival rally 2.5 kilometers (1.5 mi) away, at Victory Park.

Lukashenko has ruled Belarus since 1994. Official results say he won a sixth term in last week's presidential election, with about 80% of vote.

Protesters claim vote was a sham and allege results were manipulated.

About 7,000 people were arrested over several days of protests, which police harshly tried to put down with clubs, rubber bullets and flash grenes.

Many detainees were later released, complaining of brutality from police while in custody and showing extensive bruises.