Opposition calls for peaceful protests in Belarus

The top opposition candidate in Belarus' presidential vote said on Tuesday that she has left for Lithuania and called on her supporters to end demonstrations. A former teacher and political novice apologized to her supporters in a video statement and said it was her own choice to leave the country.

In another video statement released later on Tuesday, she urged her supporters to respect the law and avoid clashes with police. Belarus' 65-year-old authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko put down the opposition as “sheep” manipulated by foreign masters and vowed to continue the tough crackdown on protests despite Western rebukes. Heavy police cordons on Minsk's central squares and avenues didn't stop the demonstrators from gathering in downtown areas for the past two nights, chanting "Freedom!" and "Long live Belarus!" More rallies were expected later Tuesday.