The European Union held an emergency summit on the crisis, rejecting Lukashenko's re-election in a contested vote on Aug. 9 and announcing monetary sanctions against officials that the bloc blames for election fraud and a breaking down on protests.
"Our concept is quite clear. EU commission head Ursula von der Leyen explained the list of those struck by sanctions would be ready swiftly.
"That is all about the Belarusian people and their legitimate right to ascertain the future course of the country," she said. "The European Union stands at the side of the Belarusian men and women."
Lukashenko, a gruff former Soviet collective farm boss facing the biggest crisis of the 26 year rule, has blamed foreign nations for stirring the unrest and says the protesters are funded from abroad.
"There should no longer be any disease in Minsk of any kind," he said in comments reported by state news agency Belta, declaring the new police crackdown in the funds. "Folks are tired. People today demand quiet and peace."
Police had kept a low profile in a mass protest in Minsk on Sunday and the protests have spread into a number of Belarus's major industrial plants.
On Wednesday, police dispersed a demonstration and arrested two individuals in the Minsk Tractor Works (MTZ) plant.
Police also took charge of the main state drama theater in Minsk. It became a flashpoint for protests when its manager, a former Belarusian diplomat, was dismissed after speaking out in favour of the opposition rallies.
Lukashenko ordered boundary controls to be tightened to avoid influx of"fighters and arms", and intelligence agencies to search for the organisers of presentations.
The EU wants to prevent a repeat of violence in neighbouring Ukraine, in which a pro-Moscow leader has been ousted in a popular uprising six years back, triggering a Russian army intervention along with Europe's deadliest ongoing battle.
"For us it is clear that Belarus has to find its own path, that must happen via dialogue in the country and there must be no intervention from outside," said German Chancellor Angela Merkel. She bluntly stated she saw no role for herself as a believer in the crisis, noting she'd tried to call Lukashenko, but"he refused to talk to me, and that I repent".
Russia has consistently warned that the West against meddling in Belarus, which includes the closest economical, cultural and political ties to Moscow of the former Soviet republics and is fundamental to the European Union strategy.
On Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused unidentified foreign powers of interfering, which he called improper.
Many European officials have stressed the Belarusian opposition, unlike in Ukraine, does not seem to be committed to loosening ties with Russia, only to getting rid of Lukashenko.
"Belarus is not Europe," EU Industry Commissioner Thierry Breton said, comparing it into pro-Western Ukraine and Georgia, both goals of Russian military operations. "Belarus is so strongly connected with Russia and also nearly all the population is favourable to close connections with Russia."
However, some European officials, especially in countries close to the frontier, have pushed to get a firmer line to support the resistance and push if Moscow backs any movement to conquer it.
The Kremlin faces the option of sticking with Lukashenko to determine whether he can cling on, or seeking to manage a transition to another leader who would maintain Minsk in Moscow's orbit.
Flight monitoring data showed a Russian authorities plane used in the past to carry officials including the head of the FSB security agency flew into Belarus and rear immediately.
Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya urged the EU to deny official results that give Lukashenko 80 percent of the vote. A 37-year-old political newcomer, she stood as his principal challenger in the election after better-known resistance figures were detained or banned from standing.
"Our concept is quite clear. EU commission head Ursula von der Leyen explained the list of those struck by sanctions would be ready swiftly.
"That is all about the Belarusian people and their legitimate right to ascertain the future course of the country," she said. "The European Union stands at the side of the Belarusian men and women."
Lukashenko, a gruff former Soviet collective farm boss facing the biggest crisis of the 26 year rule, has blamed foreign nations for stirring the unrest and says the protesters are funded from abroad.
"There should no longer be any disease in Minsk of any kind," he said in comments reported by state news agency Belta, declaring the new police crackdown in the funds. "Folks are tired. People today demand quiet and peace."
Police had kept a low profile in a mass protest in Minsk on Sunday and the protests have spread into a number of Belarus's major industrial plants.
On Wednesday, police dispersed a demonstration and arrested two individuals in the Minsk Tractor Works (MTZ) plant.
Police also took charge of the main state drama theater in Minsk. It became a flashpoint for protests when its manager, a former Belarusian diplomat, was dismissed after speaking out in favour of the opposition rallies.
Lukashenko ordered boundary controls to be tightened to avoid influx of"fighters and arms", and intelligence agencies to search for the organisers of presentations.
The EU wants to prevent a repeat of violence in neighbouring Ukraine, in which a pro-Moscow leader has been ousted in a popular uprising six years back, triggering a Russian army intervention along with Europe's deadliest ongoing battle.
"For us it is clear that Belarus has to find its own path, that must happen via dialogue in the country and there must be no intervention from outside," said German Chancellor Angela Merkel. She bluntly stated she saw no role for herself as a believer in the crisis, noting she'd tried to call Lukashenko, but"he refused to talk to me, and that I repent".
Russia has consistently warned that the West against meddling in Belarus, which includes the closest economical, cultural and political ties to Moscow of the former Soviet republics and is fundamental to the European Union strategy.
On Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused unidentified foreign powers of interfering, which he called improper.
Many European officials have stressed the Belarusian opposition, unlike in Ukraine, does not seem to be committed to loosening ties with Russia, only to getting rid of Lukashenko.
"Belarus is not Europe," EU Industry Commissioner Thierry Breton said, comparing it into pro-Western Ukraine and Georgia, both goals of Russian military operations. "Belarus is so strongly connected with Russia and also nearly all the population is favourable to close connections with Russia."
However, some European officials, especially in countries close to the frontier, have pushed to get a firmer line to support the resistance and push if Moscow backs any movement to conquer it.
The Kremlin faces the option of sticking with Lukashenko to determine whether he can cling on, or seeking to manage a transition to another leader who would maintain Minsk in Moscow's orbit.
Flight monitoring data showed a Russian authorities plane used in the past to carry officials including the head of the FSB security agency flew into Belarus and rear immediately.
Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya urged the EU to deny official results that give Lukashenko 80 percent of the vote. A 37-year-old political newcomer, she stood as his principal challenger in the election after better-known resistance figures were detained or banned from standing.