Social pickets staged in Belarus

Some 60 pickets are today taking place across Belarus in the framework of preparations for the opposition-staged Social March. Out of a total of 458 picket applications, only three events -- two in Brest and one in Navapolack -- were okayed by the local authorities. On the eve of the actions, police warned the organizers that it was illegal to stage unauthorized events.

According to Anatol Liabedzka, the leader of the United Civil Party, pickets are taking place despite the ban.

During the pickets, participants hand out the latest issues of Tovarishch newspaper, devoted to the Social March.