Defiant protesters have rallied in central Minsk again in a sign that even a threat to use the army was not enough to quell the uprising against authoritarian president Alexander Lukashenko. Unofficial estimates put the crowd that formed outside the parliament at 150,000 people or more.

Demonstrations have been held in the capital and other Belarusian towns since 9 August, when an election which protesters describe as rigged granted Lukashenko a sixth term in office. Demonstrators are demanding he quit after 26 years in power, and that new elections be held.