Minsk: More than 300 people were detained in the Belarusian capital on Sunday, where crowds of people took to the streets for the 18th consecutive weekend, demanding the ouster of the country's authoritarian leader who won a sixth term in office in an election widely seen as rigged.
"We believe! We can! We will win!" some demonstrators chanted. Several people wore Santa Claus costumes and masks depicting President Alexander Lukashenko.
"Give Belarusians a gift: go away," a banner they carried read.
Police in Minsk said they detained more than 300 people.
Read:| Protesters attack police station in Minsk
The Viasna human rights group released the names of 215 people detained in Minsk and other cities, where rallies also took place.
Mass protests have rocked Belarus, a former Soviet republic in eastern Europe, since official results from the August 9 presidential election gave Lukashenko a landslide victory over his widely popular opponent, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. She and her supporters refused to recognize the result, saying the vote was riddled with fraud.
Authorities have cracked down hard on the largely peaceful demonstrations, the biggest of which attracted up to 200,000 people. Police used stun grenades, tear gas and truncheons to disperse the rallies.
On Sunday, water cannons, armoured vehicles and military trucks were seen in the centre of Minsk. Several subway stations were closed and internet access was restricted.
At least four journalists have been detained in Minsk and the western city of Grodno, according to the Belarusian Association of Journalists. Nina Bahinskaya, a 73-year-old protester famous for her resilience, was also among those detained, according to Viasna.
The continued crackdown on the protests elicited international outrage. Earlier this year, the European Union imposed sanctions on Lukashenko and several dozen officials over their role in the security crackdown launched after the contested election.
AP
Read:| Nearly 3 months after vote, Belarus protests still go strong
