Riot police swiftly detained dozens at a protest march in Belarus on Sunday after strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko raised hopes for change by meeting jailed opposition figures.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that neighbouring Belarus was under unprecedented external pressure, as the Kremlin's ex-Soviet ally faces a deep political crisis over a disputed election.

Britain said Thursday it was preparing sanctions against those in Belarus responsible for "rigging" the August 9 presidential election and for the subsequent crackdown on protests against President Alexander Lukashenko.

Hundreds of Belarusian students marched through Minsk Tuesday on the first day of the academic year to protest against President Alexander Lukashenko after three weeks of rallies against his disputed re-election.

Riot police and troops mounted a heavy presence in Minsk on Sunday and began detaining demonstrators as the Belarusian opposition launched another mass rally against the regime of strongman Alexander Lukashenko.

Workers at factories in Belarus answered opposition calls for fresh strikes on Monday after a historic weekend protest over President Alexander Lukashenko's disputed re-election brought tens of thousands to the streets.

Vladimir Putin has offered to help ensure Belarus's security, according to its president Alexander Lukashenko, as pressure builds on the strongman leader and opposition protesters prepare for a show of force Sunday.

Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko said Saturday he wanted to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin as protests grew over a disputed election. "The aggression against Belarus is developing. We need to contact Putin, the president of Russia, so that I can talk with him now," Lukashenko said in a meeting with government officials. "Because this…

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Monday described opposition supporters who protested against a disputed...

Longtime Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko won Sunday's presidential election with 79.7 percent of the vote, according to the official exit poll, after a tense campaign

Presidential polls opened Sunday in Belarus, with a popular woman opposition candidate posing the greatest challenge yet to long-ruling strongman Alexander Lukashenko.

Belarus's strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday sacked his prime minister and other key members of government following a corruption scandal that saw top officials arrested.