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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Belarussian police break up rally | Belarussian police break up rally |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Police in Minsk have broken up an unapproved rally by several thousand people marking 90 years since Belarus's first declaration of independence. | Police in Minsk have broken up an unapproved rally by several thousand people marking 90 years since Belarus's first declaration of independence. |
| Dozens were arrested at the rally, an event which in recent years has become a protest against the authoritarian rule of President Alexander Lukashenko. | Dozens were arrested at the rally, an event which in recent years has become a protest against the authoritarian rule of President Alexander Lukashenko. |
| Riot police beat protesters as they broke up the rally, witnesses say. | Riot police beat protesters as they broke up the rally, witnesses say. |
| Mr Lukashenko has been branded Europe's "last dictator" by the US but he remains broadly popular in Belarus. | Mr Lukashenko has been branded Europe's "last dictator" by the US but he remains broadly popular in Belarus. |
| Protesters waved European Union flags and chanted "Long Live Belarus" as police ordered them to disperse. | Protesters waved European Union flags and chanted "Long Live Belarus" as police ordered them to disperse. |
| Witnesses said after about an hour police waded in and forcibly dragged protesters onto waiting buses. | Witnesses said after about an hour police waded in and forcibly dragged protesters onto waiting buses. |
| Human rights activists said more than 100 people were taken into custody. | Human rights activists said more than 100 people were taken into custody. |
| Rallying point | Rallying point |
| Opposition leader Anatoly Lebedko told the Associated Press news agency that the authorities had shown there was "no freedom of speech nor freedom to gather" in Belarus. | Opposition leader Anatoly Lebedko told the Associated Press news agency that the authorities had shown there was "no freedom of speech nor freedom to gather" in Belarus. |
| The US has criticised President Lukashenko's authoritarian regime | The US has criticised President Lukashenko's authoritarian regime |
| Interior Minister Vladimir Naumov had said before the rally that additional forces would be deployed and that "any unsanctioned march will be prevented in accordance with the necessary laws". | Interior Minister Vladimir Naumov had said before the rally that additional forces would be deployed and that "any unsanctioned march will be prevented in accordance with the necessary laws". |
| The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse in neighbouring Ukraine says the anniversary of the 1918 declaration has in recent years become a rallying point for opposition to the government. | The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse in neighbouring Ukraine says the anniversary of the 1918 declaration has in recent years become a rallying point for opposition to the government. |
| The independent Belarusian People's Republic was short lived - it fell to the Bolsheviks within months. | The independent Belarusian People's Republic was short lived - it fell to the Bolsheviks within months. |
| The Belarus leadership has criticised the anniversary for being anti-Soviet. | The Belarus leadership has criticised the anniversary for being anti-Soviet. |
| Allegations of vote-rigging during his re-election as president in 2006 led to Mr Lukashenko and a number of his top officials being banned from travelling to the US or the European Union. | Allegations of vote-rigging during his re-election as president in 2006 led to Mr Lukashenko and a number of his top officials being banned from travelling to the US or the European Union. |
| He officially won 83% of the vote with his nearest opposition rival, Alexander Milinkevich, taking 6%. | He officially won 83% of the vote with his nearest opposition rival, Alexander Milinkevich, taking 6%. |
| Analysts note that many Belarussians credit Mr Lukashenko with maintaining economic stability and paying pensions on time, and for avoiding the post-communist turmoil seen in neighbouring countries. | Analysts note that many Belarussians credit Mr Lukashenko with maintaining economic stability and paying pensions on time, and for avoiding the post-communist turmoil seen in neighbouring countries. |