The UK's foreign secretary has called for new elections to be held in Belarus following the publication of an independent report into August's contested vote.

(The New York Times)

In a statement, Dominic Raab said: "We pushed for this independent investigation and it has exposed the fraud at the heart of the presidential elections and the despicable actions taken by Lukashenko's regime to suppress the Belarusian people.

"New elections which are free and fair must now be organised, and those responsible for the violence against demonstrators held to account."

(Daily Mirror)

The Foreign Office said the report found August's election had been "falsified" and that it exposed the extent of human rights violations committed by President Alexander Lukashenko.

It comes after police in Belarus fired stun grenades to disperse protesters ahead of a nationwide strike called by opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya last week.

Ms Tikhanovskaya, who is in exile in neighbouring Lithuania, had previously set out a "people's ultimatum" for President Lukashenko to step down.

The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) report said authorities were responsible for "massive and systematic human rights violations in response to peaceful demonstrations and protests".

(Lupni.com/Sky News)