Belarus arrests Independence Day protestors

Belarus security forces on Sunday arrested at least 10 people to prevent a planned opposition protest in front of the Minsk railway station on Independence Day, an AFP correspondent reported. Police sealed off the area and plainclothes agents mingled with passers-by to check for potential opposition activists. At least 10 people were led away into a police van and more vehicles arrived on the scene in apparent anticipation of further arrests, the AFP correspondent added. The Internet-based opposition group "Revolution through the Social Network" had called for the "silent" protest but its main page has now been blocked and previous actions have been broken up by the security forces.