Belarus: More than 10 detained at Minsk opposition rally

Police arrested at least 10 people on Saturday evening in Minsk as hundreds of opposition supporters drove through the centre of the Belarusian capital, waving flags and brandishing clenched-fist victory signs from the vehicles' windows.

The authoritarian leader of Belarus is facing the toughest challenge yet as he runs for a sixth term, after 26 years in office.

Discontent over a worsening economy and the government's dismissive response to the coronavirus pandemic has helped fuel the country's largest opposition rallies since Alexander Lukashenko became its first and only elected president following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Election officials barred the president's two main prospective rivals from what is now a five-person race.

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, a 37-year-old former teacher and the wife of a jailed opposition blogger, has managed to draw strong support, with tens of thousands flocking to her campaign rallies.

Tsikhanouskaya left her home during the campaign fearing she could get arrested.