Rally outside factory amid Belarus strikes

A rally was held outside Minsk's Atlant factory on Tuesday, as national strikes and protests sparked by elections results continued.

On Monday, several major state-controlled plants and factories anunced strikes, with thousands of workers taking to streets and demanding Lukashenko's resignation.

More factories anunced strikes on Tuesday.

embattled president said Monday country could have a new presidential election, but only after approving an amended version of its constitution in a nationwide referendum - an apparent bid to buy some time amid growing political crisis.

Western officials said elections were neir free, r fair and criticized Belarusian authorities for ir violent crackdown on protesters.

In Brussels, European Council President Charles Michel said an emergency summit of EU leers would convene Wednesday to discuss election and crackdown.