Minsk demonstrators made President arms himself with a Kalashnikov

Minsk

While more than 100,000 demonstrators joined a Sunday rally against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, the embattled leader was digging in at the presidential palace with a machine gun and a bullet-proof vest.

Two weeks after a disputed election returned him to power, protesters returned to the streets in historic numbers for a second weekend, shouting "Uchodi!" - "Get out!" on Independence Square in the capital Minsk in defiance of threats from the state. State media showed footage of the president armed with a Kalashnikov submachine gun and bullet proof vest condemning the "rats" outside his official residence.