EU calls summit on Belarus; striking workers march

European Council President Charles Michel on Monday convened an emergency summit of EU leaders to discuss the presidential election in Belarus and the crackdown in the wake of the disputed polls.

Michel tweeted that “the people of Belarus have the right to decide on their future and freely elect their leader.”

“Violence against protesters is unacceptable and cannot be allowed,” he said.

Thousands of protesters have been demanding a rerun of the country's presidential election since Lukashenko claimed a landslide victory and was elected for a sixth consecutive term in office on August 9.

Despite harsh police crackdowns against the protesters, including the detention of some 7,000 people, demonstrations have swelled into the largest and most sustained anti-government movement since Lukashenko took power in 1994.