Belarus police arrest dozens at independence rally
MINSK – Police arrested scores of people in central Minsk on Sunday in angry clashes with demonstrators holding a "clapping" protest against President Alexander Lukashenko, a Reuters correspondent said, Reuters reported.
Plain clothes police and special forces moved in as about 20 or so mainly young people, answering a social network call for action, began applauding in front of the central station. In chaotic scenes the protest spread, embracing hundreds of others who were on the other side of a wide boulevard.
Many were bundled immediately into police vans but others resisted and blows were exchanged with police.
At one point an elderly man rolled on the ground after trying to snatch back his grandson who had been arrested.
Women appeared on two occasions with their children clapping in front of police in defiance of orders to move on.
At times the police appeared at a loss to deal with the protest and on more than one occasion seemed to be attacking each other.
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