SEVERAL HUNDRED OPPOSITION PROTESTERS CONFRONTED POLICE IN CENTRAL MINSK ON SATURDAY AT THE START OF A RALLY AGAINST THE RE-ELECTION OF BELARUSSIAN PRESIDENT ALEXANDER LUKASHENKO WHICH THEY SAY WAS RIGGED, REUTERS REPORTED TODAY. THE DEMONSTRATORS, CHANTING 'LONG LIVE BELARUS!' AND 'SHAME!', GATHERED ON THE EDGE OF MINSK'S OCTOBER SQUARE, SITE OF A TENT CAMP CLEARED AWAY BY POLICE ON FRIDAY. THEY THEN PUSHED THROUGH A CORDON OF POLICE. THERE WAS NO MAJOR FIGHTING, BUT THERE WAS SOME SCUFFLING BETWEEN POLICE AND PROTESTERS. DESPITE POLICE ACTION THAT BROKE UP THE OVERNIGHT PROTESTS EARLY ON FRIDAY AND DEFYING A BAN ON SUCH DEMONSTRATIONS, OPPOSITION LEADER ALEXANDER MILINKEVICH HAD URGED SUPPORTERS TO MASS 'NO MATTER WHAT' FROM 1000 GMT IN OCTOBER SQUARE. MILINKEVICH, DEFEATED OPPOSITION CANDIDATE IN THE MARCH 19 POLL, HAS SAID THAT IF AUTHORITIES SEALED OFF THE SQUARE PROTESTERS WOULD MOVE TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION WHICH HE HAS REFUSED TO DISCLOSE.
