Belarus protests: nationwide strike looms after 'people’s ultimatum' rally

Opposition leader calls for action on Monday as Lukashenko defies demand from 100,000 marchers in Minsk to step down

Belarusian riot police launched another violent crackdown in Minsk on Sunday evening, throwing stun grenades into crowds of peaceful protesters, chasing people through courtyards and making arrests as they attempted to curtail the 11th consecutive Sunday of protest in the country.

At least 100,000 people marched through the centre of the Belarusian capital earlier in the day to give what they called a people's ultimatum" to Alexander Lukashenko: step down, or face a nationwide strike on Monday that could cripple the economy.