Thousands try to storm government HQ in Minsk

Thousands of opposition protesters in Belarus have tried to storm the government headquarters, following the country's presidential election.

The demonstrators smashed windows and doors at the building in Minsk, but were later pushed back by riot police.

Seven presidential candidates were arrested, reports say. Another was injured in an earlier incident.

Incumbent Alexander Lukashenko has been declared the winner with 79.7% of the vote, but the opposition claims the result is rigged.

The BBC's Steve Rosenberg describes the clashes in Minsk.