Crowds of protesters in Belarus swarmed the streets and thousands of workers rallied outside industrial plants on Thursday (August 13) to denounce a police crackdown on demonstrations over a disputed election that extended the 26-year rule of authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko.<br /><br />In several areas of the capital, Minsk, hundreds of women formed long “lines of solidarity." <br /><br />Many were dressed in white and carried flowers and portraits of loved ones who have been detained during protests that began shortly after Sunday's vote, which they said was rigged.<br /><br />The human chains grew quickly and by early afternoon filled the main central squares and avenues. <br /><br />Motorists honked in support. <br /><br />In Minsk and many other cities, thousands of factory workers also rallied against police violence, raising the prospect of strikes in a new challenge to the government.
