Tsikhanouskaya says she wants to return to Belarus

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the main challenger to President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, said on Friday she will return to her country when she feels "secure".

She was speaking from Lithuania where she went after the disputed elections earlier this month, under pressure from Belarus authorities.

Tsikhanouskaya condemned recent violence "during peaceful protests" adding that the "people of Belarus can never accept the current government."

During the first four days of post-election protests, police detained almost 7,000 people and injured hundreds with rubber bullets, stun grenades and clubs. At least three protesters died.

The crackdown fueled massive outrage and swelled protesters’ ranks, forcing authorities to change tactics and stop breaking up crowds.

But after standing back for days, police again beefed up their presence on the streets and deployed outside major factories that have joined the strike.

Tsikhanouskaya urged factory workers to continue striking in a video statement Friday.