MINSK: Tens of thousands of Belarusian opposition supporters gathered in Minsk on Sunday to join a “March for Freedom” over President Alexander Lukashenko’s disputed re-election.
Chanting “Leave!”, the protesters marched down Independence Avenue following an opposition call for the biggest rally yet in a week of demonstrations since the vote.
Columns of demonstrators raised victory signs and held flowers and balloons. Many wore white, the colour that has come to symbolise the opposition movement. Those marching included a group of veteran paratroopers in uniform berets.
Demonstrators held placards with slogans such as “We are against violence” and “Lukashenko must answer for the torture and dead”.
Protesters walked through the city carrying a 100-metre-long red-and-white flag, once the state flag and now used to represent opposition to the current regime.
They chanted “Long live Belarus!” and called for Lukashenko to “Leave!” as cars honked horns in support.
The protests came as Lukashenko held a rally for supporters in central Minsk, urging them to save the country from destruction. - AFP
