Belarus police disperse protesters

Police in Belarus have used batons to disperse an opposition rally in the capital organised through social networking websites.

Hundreds of mostly young protesters who gathered across Minsk were chased by officers, who also cordoned off a central square and adjacent streets.

The capital’s authorities ordered subway trains not to stop at city centre stations.

The rally was organised through social networking websites to protest against government policies that triggered a severe economic crisis in the ex-Soviet nation.

President Alexander Lukashenko, whom the West calls “Europe’s last dictator”, has been widely criticised for his government’s efforts to quash opposition groups and independent media.