Protesters and riot police have clashed in Belarus’ capital Minsk and other cities after a state TV exit poll said long-time leader Alexander Lukashenko was re-elected in yesterday’s election.
In Minsk, the police used stun grenades to disperse crowds in the city centre.
There have been reports of injuries. The state TV exit poll showed that Mr Lukashenko won nearly 80 percent of the vote.
Main opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya said she did not trust the figures which gave her 7 percent.
The opposition said it expected the vote to be rigged, saying it would keep an alternative count of the votes.
Miss Tikhanovskaya, aged 37, entered the election in place of her jailed husband and went on to lead large opposition rallies.
Mr Lukashenko has been in power since 1994, and has vowed that the situation in the country will remain “under control”.