Belarus: Dozens arrested as riot police storm protest

Police in Belarus stormed a protest rally against the contested re-election of President Alexander Lukashenko early today and arrested dozens of demonstrators.

The arrests came after half a dozen large police trucks and 75 riot police with clubs pulled up to Oktyarbrskaya Square in central Minsk at about 3am local time.

The police stood around for a few minutes after arriving and then barged into the tent cam which was surrounded by a chain of protesters.

An Associated Press reporter on the scene said they seized what appeared to be 40 to 50 people and forced them into the trucks. Dozens more protesters followed willingly.