More than 1,000 people have been arrested during new anti-government rallies over the disputed presidential election in Belarus, according to reports.
The tally of 1,005 from human rights group Viasna came after protesters took to the streets in the capital Minsk on Sunday amid growing anger over the death of an opposition activist.
Most of the arrests were in Minsk. Mass arrests took place near the Pushkinskaya metro station, where opposition supporters were gathering.
Police also made some arrests in Novogrudok, Vitebsk, Svetlogorsk, Gomel, Bobruisk, Grodno, Ivye, Brest, Molodechno, Novopolotsk, Zhlobin and other cities.
Earlier protesters reported the use of tear gas and stun grenades by security forces.
The disputed election in August has led to a months-long political crisis in Belarus.
The country's long-time leader Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled the country for 26 odd years and is backed by Russia's Vladimir Putin, announced that he had won 80% of the votes.
The main opposition leader, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, said that she won 60 to 70% of the vote and was forced to flee to neighboring Lithuania immediately after the elections.
The EU and US government say the election was rigged, but Lukashenko says the West uses the election to destabilize Belarus and topple him.
