Fresh strikes are predicted in Belarus after a weekend on which thousands of people gathered on streets to demand the departure of long-term President Alexander Lukashenko.

Opposition leaders have called for the strikes after reports of police violence and alleged poll-rigging on the 9 August vote.

However, the President remains defiant. He called on supporters on Sunday to defend their country and independence.

However, a large number of people protested. Local news described the peaceful protests as “the largest in the history of independent Belarus”.

According to the international news agency, local media sources said that around 31,000 people participated in the pro-government event on Sunday.

Mr. Lukashenko said to his supporters on Sunday that Belarus would “die as a state” a re-run of the election were to take place.

“You came here so that for the first time in a quarter-century you could defend your country, your independence, your wives, sisters, and children”.

He also said that the opposition would “crawl like rats out of a hole” if they were not suppressed this time.