just merkel says opposition protesters in belarus deserve dialogue with luka shanker but the president isn't taking her call also coming up a military coup.

you cannot has almost no chance of forcing out luka shanker but she and the other campaign is had still managed to hope belorussians imagine a country without it's a long term leader. to football now and by munich have sealed their passage into the champions league quarter finals after easily eliminating chelsea. in the one legged game in the last 8 next friday in lisbon that's after the spanish defeated napoli. converted an early pun penalty and netted light on and i for one when. i was also among the scores behind wrapped up a 71 aggregate victory having won the 1st leg why back in february before the coronavirus suspension. now in an age of social distancing in foreign saying joining in one of the world's biggest dances might seem unwise somewhat but into a bit more than $3000.00 people attempted to break the record for the largest string densher traditional folk dance in tibet usually fixes men playing the shanty type of stringed instrument. there. the women take center stage. and the colorful costumes. you're watching datable the news here's a reminder of the top story we're follow

realize that no national merit and no one has stopped pursuing a goal to force luka shanker to resign it helps to keep our spirits up and not to get sad i didn't know it was the show the beginning we were really enthusiastic now people are starting to say the protests a calming down the people a pessimistic we have to remember that the regime had ruled for 26 years it's impossible to overturn in just 10 days. the opposition is still encouraging people to attend mass demonstrations and urging the authorities not to use force and the u.n. is calling for all political prisoners to be released bellary soon authorities say nearly all have been freed. for good for many a hoping lukas shimko is losing his grip on power but the hard line leader insists it was solve the political crisis in the coming days. is a look now at some of the other stories making news around the world today u.s. postmaster general louis to joy has appeared before congress amid widespread concerns over postal delays mail in voting is likely to be a key feature of the november election jew to the coronavirus and to. dem

germany's angela merkel has spoken with russia's putin but said lukas shanker wouldn't take her calls for middle income only mediate if one is in contact with all sides but we will do everything we can from our side to promote a national dialogue. in security council meeting the talk was of no talk. the leaders of the western countries offer us negotiations conversations and at this time they continue to push their line we can see it we understand it but we do not accept it i want them to hear that solution. but those filling the streets across speller us day and night are desperate for dialogue one of their leaders told you they want everyone to help you out if is possible that the e.u. states the russian federation and ukraine can help us to organize a dialogue within the country and with external partners so that the transfer of power happens and we listen to each other i would always support it this is a decisive moment for us. we must be. decisive not only because putin has remained tight lipped but decisive because they have the support of the european union and decisive because

is set to impose sanctions over the government's violent crackdown on the protests on saturday luka shanker reached out to russia's president vladimir putin's i've begun wrist. long well over a state chant it was a day of mixed emotions on the streets of minsk. thousands gathered for the funeral of a man who died on monday in clashes with police at this demonstration the news really security forces were nowhere to be seen since last sunday's election calls to president alexander lukashenko to stand aside have only grown louder in the face of his defiance protesters and the opposition accuse him of rigging the vote and say his leadership lacks legitimacy. musial forceable most of every day what will happen remains unclear he thinks completely differently and depending how the situation of voles he will act accordingly but his methods are not civilized and everyone has learned this in the last 26 years. in the store. must be simplest as it is obvious that our president cannot longer cope with these people he is looking for help in the east he understands that he does not have support from the

some of the foreign forces that were meddling but today we heard from a talk between putin and luka shanker that putin would be willing to get involved and to prop up potentially look i shan't go to help. the collective security treaty organization which is a military alliance between the 2 countries and other former soviet states so we'll have to wait and see what that means in practice but it's certainly a worrying sign all eyes will certainly be on the developments in baton rouge and the show in reporting from moscow thanks very much. let's take a look now at some of the other stories making news around the world this hour israel has launched further airstrikes on harassed positions in gaza overnight and as a closed the on players off shore fishing zone the army said the measures were in response to rockets and balloon fire bombs being sent into israeli territory over the past week is the most intense escalation of hostilities in months. thousands of protesters a rallying in bangkok to demand political change tensions in thailand have been rising after the arrest of 3 leading pro-democra

their virtual crackdown and to demands new elections it's the biggest challenge that president lukas shanker has faced in his 26 years in power also coming up authorities in afghanistan to release more taliban prisoners as a precondition for peace talks about the group faces opposition. and thousands of british travellers cut short their holidays and scramble to get home from france before the new quarantine rules come into effect. welcome to the program in bill a ruse to finance his mounting against authoritarian president alexander lukashenko tens of thousands of people have again rally peacefully in the capital minsk it comes after just future to elections last weekend which saw police launch a violent crackdown on dissent some of the 7000 protesters detained over the past week have been released many reporting having been beaten and torch it. across the country workers went on strike putting their voices to the swelling protest movement thousands upon thousands willing to risk their jobs. calling for president alexander lukashenko to go he tried to play matters down. 20 people decided to

has almost no chance of forcing out luka shanker but she and the other campaigners have still managed to help russians imagine their country without its long term leader. correspondent i'm only sure when who is monitoring the elections from moscow polling stations have now closed tell us about the atmosphere on election day. well what we've seen today and also in recent weeks in belo roots is really unprecedented. the opposition candidate has drawn some of the biggest crowds to her protests today there have been long lines outside of many polling stations people have been posting videos of themselves on social networks kind of playing a soviet protest anthem called. change calling for change out side out of there their car windows they've been wearing white ribbons as a sign for the fact that they support the opposition a sign that they want change that they want to turn over a new leaf but today we've also seen signs of a crackdown there have been videos on social media of military vehicles parked outside of minsk kind of standing at the ready various internet platforms have been blo

neighbors get involved or not the bellary see an opposition is planning their next step to bring lukas shanker has rule to an end. and let's get more now we are joined by. shadow who is following developments for us yuri another evening of protest and manske are the opposition and the demonstrators gaining ground grout always see as the opposition but there is definitely acting more and more professionally more and more coordinated and goal oriented given that just a few weeks ago there was almost a no united to position what's happening today is it really a future success for them the opposition created and coordinating council that announced yesterday the concrete aim of its work to hold 'd a new presidential elections and arrange for a peaceful transfer of power the council has no other political or reform program they set counselor members pointed out to that that they do not aim to cease power which is what actually accused them of wanting to do the peaceful program of the council seems really well considered because nobody wants more violence neither on the opposition side nor among the

moscow sometime in the next few weeks so clearly no sense of urgency on the side of who's in or luka shankerthere is no love lost between them in fact before the presidential election lucas said that russia was trying to divide belarus and sending agents to draw and divide the country so they should vote for him he now says after the election that is nate so when europe is trying to divide his country but anyway and so no love lost between the 2 leaders what putin has offered said he's ready a rapid reaction police force should look at ask for it to come and stop the protests of voters in montenegro are heading to the polls to elect a new parliament president may know you can of h. has cast his ballot in the capital parts go raissa is governing parties facing opposition from an alliance seeking closer ties with serbia and russia it kind of his government has led the country almost continuously since the end of communism in the 1990 s. yvonne pack of h. is following the latest star in the capital parts arisa for as he explains why voters are more divided than ever. turnout is actually very si

means good to condemn political violence and to monch new elections it's the biggest child learns lukas shanker has faced in his 26 years and years in power.

shown here and old kovach over was sentenced to 10 days in prison on tuesday a huge banner with luka shanker his election slogan for bella reese hangs over independence square this is been the site of many mass protests and the opposition plans to rally here again and to keep calling for a democratic ballot. while the european union is refusing to recognize the results of that vote drawing praise from delusion opposition leaders like plan a teacher in australia corresponded constantine has been speaking with the defeated presidential candidate in vilnius lithuania that's where she fled after the election said lot of the kind of scale. what do you think is going to happen in the coming days weeks and bill as we've seen massive demonstrations especially in this but not always as well we've seen alexander lukashenko being filmed by his press with a machine gun so he's showing that he's not going to leave. was going to happen i'm afraid it's going to be real violence. i have seen the c.d.o. and a continent comment on it because it's awful but. you know our people have changed and i don't know wh

that protest wolf luka shanker supporters who also staged a rally in which the president rejected demands for reverse. and this. poor little way mia latvia poland and unfortunately now do you crying and its leadership ordering us to hold new elections. put it. if we follow their lead we will fall into the abyss and never get out house in order to send them since. we will perish as a state agency and as a people. did this he gives a little. as the internal pressure continues international concern grows with the e.u. to hold an emergency summit about belarus on wednesday. let's get the latest on the story now we have our correspondents standing by for us your ear chateau is in moscow and band report is in brussels good to have you both very i want to start with you we saw those images of workers striking and protesting but at the same time president look i shan't go does not seem to be backing down at all tell us more about what we've heard from him. well assuming from all official and less official statements by exxon to look at shankar that we have heard in the past few days and today one

neighbors get involved do not the bellary see an opposition is planning the next step to bring lukas shanker is rule 2 in and. let's go right to minsk for more our correspondent nick conley is standing by for us hi nick good to see you so another day of unrest in belarus or strikes around the country more protests expected this evening is there the sense that the opposition and the demonstrators are gaining ground. the fact that this square in front of government house in minsk is empty now in the rain is no indication that these protests are losing their dynamism their momentum from the beginning this has been very diffuse protests spread across minsk critical to the whole country and people have been coming out for events in the evenings going back to work and they've really made a conscious decision not to set up a central protest camp of the government then surround and clear arresting people even from where i'm standing now i can see people walking with flags on the side of the road drivers beeping their horns in support of those protesters so it's a very fast moving very diffuse situat

and it is it is a it incumbent lukas shanker the official winner with nearly 80 percent of the vote said the protests are being organized from abroad. few little sheep are being directed by people in the czech republic to the opposition understands nothing new and is urging people to take to the streets in order to i quote hold negotiations with the government so that it voluntarily hands over power lust but handing over power is something lucas shango has categorically ruled out you are joined by overseas editor bill of rights analyses at the research center for east european studies at the university of bremen here in germany organ's good to have you on the program tonight 1st of all what did you make of the election results. overwhelming win 80 percent of the vote did that surprise you. well actually i was not of course that has been the fact that he won and everybody expected that i think you know we have this long he still wants to think ational an excellent election results in belarus still pro 20 years already so it's not a surprise we're actually surprised me and disdain peter th

germany's angela merkel has spoken with russia's putin but said lukas shanker wouldn't take her calls for middle income and you know them one can only mediate if one is in contact with all sides but we will do everything we can from our side to promote a national dialogue. through the. security council meeting the talk was of no talk who would say that the leaders of the western countries offer us negotiations conversations and at this time they continue to push their line we can see it we understand it but we do not accept it i want them to hear that solution. but those filling the streets across speller us day and night are desperate for dialogue one of their leaders told the w. they want everyone to help. if it is possible that the e.u. states the russian federation and ukraine can help us to organize a dialogue within the country and with external partners so that the transfer of power happens and we listen to each other i would always support it this is a decisive moment for us. we must be. decisive not only because putin has remained tight lipped but decisive because they have t

neighbors get involved or not the bellary see an opposition is planning the next step to bring lukas shanker has rule to an end. and let's cross to moscow where bureau chief yuri of the shadow is standing by he has been following developments in bella ruse for us yuri another evening of protests in minsk are the opposition and the demonstrators gaining ground. well the opposition to the rose seems to act more and more coordinated and goal oriented i would say given that just if you go there was almost a 1000000 not that the opposition what is happening now today is really a huge success for them they created a coordinating council that is going to take place tomorrow for the 1st time the council members including by the way say a plan arctic sea of each of the below sea and writer and that we know from nobel prize in literature and now owns d.s. the day. of the work to hole to new presidential elections and a range put peaceful transfer of power they said that they don't aim to seize power which is want to look at shane quite used to them of wanting to do and that peaceful program seems real

just merkel says opposition protesters in belarus deserve dialogue with luka shanker but the president isn't taking her call also coming up a military coup in mali. there's jubilation in the capital as president ibrahim hooper card cato's resigned saying no blood will be shed to keep him in power but international observers fear more instability is on the way. hello i'm terry martian good to have you with us european union does not recognize the results of the recent election and better that has allowed president alexander lukashenko to cling to power that word from german chancellor angela merkel after an emergency video summit of e.u. leaders the head of the european commission added that europe is ready for a quote. peaceful democratic transition of power in belarus will provide detailed analysis in the wake of that emergency meeting in a moment but 1st let's get more on the situation as it stands now in belarus. more workers joined the walkout in the past president alexander lukashenko could count on state employees to support him but he had to order managers to threaten them with

russians who are increasingly dominating the country streets their immediate concern is to get rid of luka shanker and to have free and fair elections step pass and al-jazeera meant his present donald trump as defending the man he appointed as postmaster general despite accusations he's trying to sabotage the system head of november's election the postal service has warned that millions of mail in votes may not arrive in time to be counted mike hanna reports. protesters gathered outside the new postmaster general steve c. home. to joy was a prominent republican fundraiser and those here in so steve's effectively assisting president trump in what amounts to voter suppression former president barack obama in rare public criticism accuse the president off and i quote me capping the postal service for political gain. detroit has slashed overtime fired or reassigned key management figures and ordered the decommissioning of 10 percent of mail sorting machines the department's inspector general has confirmed to congress that an investigation into problems in the postal service is under way but president

be deployed if they are wrest spins out of control of in mass protests across the country since luka shanker declared another overwhelming victory in the election just over 2 weeks ago his opponents say it was rigged. meanwhile police have detained around 50 journalists who were preparing to cover the latest protests in minsk the interior ministry denied anyone was detained saying they were driven to a police station to check they had valid accreditation around 40 have been released . yes democratic vice presidential nominee coming to harris has spoken at her 1st solo campaign event she delivered a preemptive strike on president donald trump ahead of the final night of the republican convention condemning his response to the coronavirus pandemic but she 1st spoke of the police shooting of jacob blake can can know shit saying america must fulfill the promise of equal justice the reality is that the life of a black person in america has never been treated as fully human and we have yet to fulfill that promise of equal justice under law. we will only achieve that when we finally come together t

but there seems to be no indication the momentum has gone out of these demonstrations and luka shanker looks no more likely to loosen its grip on the presidency after $26.00 weeks. the kremlin says about amir putin called alexander lukashenko on sunday to wish him happy birthday to man of agree to meet in moscow in the next few weeks a suggestion of the kremlin's willingness to buck russia's president as the european union prepares to impose new sanctions. burnet smith al-jazeera vilnius. well valery except color is a better russian opposition leader who is a neighboring poland he believes that he has underestimated the movement against him. everybody understand and the stand very well that look at santa maximum got 'd. 10 percent of the public support this was the real result of the presidential elections but in fact you wrote him. he declared that he had to go out 80 percent of the public vote which was absolutely not true well bill rousseau will never be the same that's very obvious. now. post from different sides i mean the look us encourage him you know look at seneca faces the op

from either side no law no love lost between either side either before the presidential election luka shanker was saying that russia was trying to divide and so they should vote for him to protect belarus and these changes choose since the election now says nato in the e.u. are threatening valorous but whatever the 2 have agreed to meet and voted no putin has offered a rapid reaction police force should look at need it to deal with protests further down the line here and lithuania way you are burnett is pushing for a stronger response from the european union and it's also considering banning alexander lukashenko what can we expect from europe what sort of support will they provide the anti-government protesters and the opposition in lithuania should this situation continue. well lithuania is already been offering safe haven to some protestors coming from before the fall of the soviet union this place was it was come to as much of a soviet satellites as belarus was that they diverged at the end of the soviet union and lithuania and the other baltic states chose the democratic path that's not h