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Opposition vows to oust Lukashenko

Protesters clash with police; top leader among many detained in Belarus capital

DEFIANT POSTURE: An Opposition supporter holds a banned Belarussian flag while facing a line of riot police (in the background), in the centre of Minsk, Belarus, on Saturday. — PHOTO: AP

MINSK (Belarus): Riot police clashed with protesters in the Belarus capital on Saturday, forcing demonstrators back and hitting several with truncheons. Four explosions were heard, apparently percussion grenades set off by police.

Many protesters were detained, including one of the Opposition leaders, Alexander Kozulin, Russian news agencies reported.

The clash occurred after a line of riot police blocked the path of some of the 1,000 protesters heading to a jail where arrested demonstrators were being held. Police beat their shields with truncheons and advanced on the crowd. The protesters began to disperse, yelling: "Fascists!''

But police detained dozens, loading them into large trucks. At least two persons were seen lying on the ground after the clash, apparently seriously hurt. An ambulance came to pick up the injured. What started with a cluster of indignant pensioners turned into a surging crowd of thousands of protesters who faced off with riot police in Minsk on Saturday before gathering in a nearby park.

The protesters had come with makeshift placards and flags to show their anger at an election last Sunday that gave a third term to President Alexander Lukashenko. They were staging their demonstration on what is an unofficial holiday for the Opposition known as Freedom Day, which celebrates Belarus' first brief period of independence from Russia in 1918.

Wide support

As the protest grew, it attracted people of all ages.

They became wedged along the sidewalks of Minsk's Independence Avenue by thousands of riot police and black-clad special forces officers who tried to push them away, as car-horns honked in support of the demonstrators. ``Keep off the road! Our first concern is for your safety!'' blared the loudspeaker of a police car before authorities briefly closed the avenue to traffic.

One woman scrawled her protest on the side of a cardboard shopping bag: ``No King Lukashenko!'' it read, referring to a 2004 constitutional change that abolished a two-term limit to tenure of the office of President.

Wedged up against a restaurant, protesters interspersed cries of ``Long Live Belarus!'' with jeers for the special forces.

``Go! Go! Faster! Faster!'' spat out one demonstrator, Yevgeny, at a column of riot police running past. ``That's what they call protecting the people!''

Others were less eager to be present: ``I'm just trying to get home,'' said a mother carrying a baby, hemmed in by riot police on what is the main shopping street.

Some 7,000 gathered in the snow among the trees in cheerful mood, playing with balloons and listening to Alexander Milinkevich, the main Opposition contender at last Sunday's election.

Mr. Milinkevich likened the task of ousting Mr. Lukashenko to storming a fortress. ``This assault will not go on for five years. It will happen soon,'' he said, referring to the five-year term for which the Belarussian leader is elected. — AP

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