voters in bellary casting their ballots in the country's presidential election xander lucas shanker is seeking a 6 successive turbaned office but he's being challenged by a political newcomer so atlanta. let's get more on the election now from danny hawkins he's outside the embassy here in moscow take us through what's at stake. here certainly a lot at stake for incumbent president alexander lukashenko many people have been queuing here but a russian embassy in central moscow since morning the crowd stretches back across the marsico streets here and around the corner as far as the eye can see maybe around 2 to one off 1000 people here just as we're doing this report all very calm and quiet not so of course in belarus were reports of it coming out over the past 24 hours of opposition activists candidates and campaigners being detained arrested and even going into hiding also some reports of internet problems internet blackouts across the country as well we understand 7 people from the headquarters of the main opposition candidates which i want to kind of scare have been detained unconfi

with xander lucas shanker is feeling the pressure he's not showing it's the man he's rubella risk for more than 25 years and officially won this month's election with 80 percent of the vote says his leadership is not in doubt yes the thought that. if anyone thinks that the power here is staggering and shaking you're wrong i want to say that the power has someone to rely on so we will not waver we will follow up path as we should those who today especially abroad and this is clearly visible are plotting against us will get a serious rebuff. i was earlier the losing opposition candidate who fled to lithuania for her own safety and whose husband is in jail in belarus called on european leaders to get tough mr last order a jitter mysie in the eyes of our nation and. on the off year all i corps here to support. those e.u. leaders gathered online for an emergency meeting convened by shell michel head of the european council after talks broke up he outlined how they'd agreed to respond to an election they say was not free or fair and the subsequent crackdowns on protesters we stand firmly be