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Belarus election : It turned into protests

: 'Hundreds detained' amid protest as early results indicate Lukashenko landslide

euronew:Thousands of protesters have been dispersed by Belarusian police as they flooded the streets in opposition to early election results that indicate longtime authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko has secured a landslide victory.

State agency Belta reported on Monday the incumbent president had secured 80.23% of the vote, while election officials said his main opponent, former schoolteacher Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, received just 9.9%.

There had been a reported 79% turnout by 18:00 CET on Sunday — an hour before polls closed — the Central Election Commission in Belarus said.

Tsikhanouskaya, a political novice who filed her candidacy after her opposition blogger husband was jailed, rejected the claims of early results as thousands of her supporters came out onto the streets to demonstrate.

“I will believe my own eyes,” she said, adding: “The majority was for us.”

Police in full riot gear responded to the marches with violent dispersal, firing flash-bang grenades and beating protesters with truncheons.

According to one leading rights group, Viasna, hundreds were detained amid the brutal crackdown.

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euronew
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