Police beat up several dozen protestors in the Belarusian capital as hundreds of people demonstrated for a second day running against a referendum which has opened the way for hardline President Alexander Lukashenko to retain power indefinitely. Some 500 largely young demonstrators marched on the presidential residence, waving banners saying "No to tyranny", when baton-wielding riot police began to make arrests. Among those arrested were opposition leader Anatoli Lebedko and a photographer for the US news agency the Associated Press, Sergei Grits. On Monday some 20 people were arrested out of the more than 2,000 people who turned out to protest the referendum removing presidential term limits, which election officials had said earlier in the day had been approved by 77% of voters.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!