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Tens of thousands of Belarus opposition supporters march in Minsk: AFP
MINSK, Aug 16, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – 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.
BSS/AFP/ARS/1856 hrs