Protest over Belarus election held in Moscow

Belarusians in Moscow joined a protest on Monday over election results which gave an overwhelming victory to authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko and sparked massive demonstrations across Belarus.

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Belarusian embassy in Russia's capital holding banners calling for the end of Lukashenko's 26-year rule.

Belarusian election officials said the incumbent president won a sixth term in office with 80% of the vote, while opposition challenger Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya got 10%.

"I think it's clear that they (results of the vote) are not true," Lida Lyatun, a Belarusian citizen in Moscow, told the Associated Press.

Tsikhanouskaya has submitted a formal request for a recount to the Central Election Commission of Belarus.

Protesters in Moscow also collected signatures to appeal the results of the vote as the embassy closed its satellite polling station before hundreds of people queuing could cast their ballot.

For Aleksey Pelepenko, a freelance photographer from Gomel region, the end of Lukashenko's era was imminent.

"He has not so much time left," Pelepenko said, "people around the world have taken to the streets."