Poland's Duda demands respect for human rights in Belarus

Polish President Andrzej Duda on Wednesday called on international community to "speak with one voice and demand that fundamental human rights be respected" in Belarus.

Duda was addressing 75th session of United Nations General Assembly.

"Belarusians, like any or free nation, have right to shape ir political future in a sovereign way without external inteference," Duda said.

Belarus has been rocked by weeks of huge protests after authoritarian leader President Alexander Lukashenko's reelection, which opposition says was rigged.

Lukashenko has run Belarus, a former Soviet nation of 9.5 million, with an iron fist for 26 years.