Belarus opposition candidate speaks in EU parliament

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

"Hereby, I declare our readiness for negotiations with the authorities, we are ready to nominate their negotiators, we are willing to consider the mediation of international organisations to facilitate the dialogue," Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya 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 the authorities," she added.

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

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

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

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