BREAKING -- BELARUS IN THE STREETS

Publius is following closely.

Pictures here.

If you're not following these events whenever you get close to a keyboard, you're missing the latest excitement on the internet. By and large it is being glossied over by popular media and lost in the shuffle of co-called local news.

Yahoo is doing its part.

Neeka's backlog Tuesday, March 21, 2006
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br23 blog reports hundreds of riot police units stationed in the backyards of the buildings adjacent to Oktyabrskaya Sq. The protesters, however, are determined to stay "until the new election date is set, in July." LJ user samuel_smith writes (RUS) that cars with drinking water and food for the protesters are kept from parking at the square by the police. LJ user agafon_bel writes (RUS) that Aleksandr Milinkevich's two sons were detained by police and almost charged with petty hooliganism, but when the police colonel learned who they were, he not just let them go but gave them a ride to the square.

Charter 97 is posting something every few minutes...

00:3000:50, 21/03/2006
Policemen do not allow the cars bringing food and mineral water to stop on the square. A policeman in mufti seized a bag with warm things and blankets from the hands of a person who went to the square.
00:2500:49, 21/03/2006
Traffic policemen have detained a car with activists of Alyaksandr Kazulin. They were transporting the Bell of Freedom. The car was stopped and taken to the police department of Central district.
00:2000:49, 21/03/2006
Several thousand people remain standing on the square. About 20 tents are placed there. People are singing songs and playing guitars. National flags, flags of the European Union and Zubr are seen. People are chanting: “Long live Belarus!”, “Police is with the people!” There are several dozens of policemen in mufti on the square. They are serenely observing the scene and do not make a move.
Alyaksandr Milinkevich’s sons are released00:16, 21/03/2006
The candidate of the democratic forces has informed about that himself. Alyaksandr and Vitaut called on the phone and said that they had been detained by policemen, but now they are released and are going to arrive to the square.
23:5000:13, 21/03/2006
Alyaksandr Milinkevich and his wife have come to the tent camp fixed on the square. Now there are 15 tents on the square. The leader of the democratic forces shook by the hand each of the protesters and thanked them for their courage. People are scanning: “Milinkevich!”, “Long live Belarus!”