Belarusians demonstrate in Minsk as anger mounts over vote (3)

Demonstrators descended on the Belarusian capital on Monday for a ninth night of protests against strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko, who was heckled by factory workers as pressure grows on him to step down. Demonstrators also marched to detention centres demanding the release of opposition leaders and protesters arrested during rallies against the results of a presidential election on August 9 that Lukashenko claims to have won with 80 percent of the vote. 

More than 100,000 people took part in a "March for Freedom" following calls for continued demonstrations from Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, a political novice who stood against Lukashenko on August 9 and claims she won the election.  While European Union leaders are to hold an emergency video summit on Belarus on Wednesday. However, Russia, the most powerful ally of Lukashenko, has said it is ready to step in if necessary.