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Belarus Forces Fire Tear Gas, Beat Demonstrators in Minsk

RFE/RL's Belarus Service

   Security forces in the Belarusian capital have fired warning shots and
   begun detaining participants on Sunday in the latest anti-government
   protest fueled by a disputed presidential election 12 weeks ago.

   Thousands of demonstrators were taking part in parallel Minsk marches
   on November 1 as part of almost daily protests and ongoing demands for
   Alyaksandr Lukashenko's resignation and a new vote.

   Columns of security trucks and buses to hold detainees could be seen
   around the city as the columns marched toward a well-known monument to
   Soviet-era repression victims outside the capital.

   But soon, law enforcement were targeting groups of protesters with
   flash-bang grenades, warning shots fired into the air, and with tear
   gas and batons while trying to disperse the crowds.

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