Rally outside factory amid Belarus strikes

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

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

More factories announced strikes on Tuesday.

The embattled president said Monday the 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 the growing political crisis.

Western officials said the elections were neither free, nor fair and criticized Belarusian authorities for their violent crackdown on protesters.

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