Opposition candidates beaten in Belarus poll protest

In the biggest challenge to authoritarian Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko in 16 years in power, thousands of demonstrators massed outside the main government office to protest over alleged vote fraud in Sunday’s presidential election, but club-swinging riot police drove them off and beat many.

The violent night left in doubt the next step for Belarus, which is of interest to Moscow because of its position as a buffer between Russia and the West. The West, for its part, has been offended by Mr Lukashenko’s harsh rule and his resistance to change.