Cartoon causes Belarus crackdown

Belarusian security services are searching the apartments and offices of opposition journalists across the country.

According to the Belarusian Association of Journalists, there is suspicion that satirical cartoons on the internet, which cast a hero resembling President Aleksandr Lukashenko, could have caused the raids.

Offices of two independent radio stations, Polish-funded Radio Rahtsiya and EU-backed European Radio were searched, too. A journalist at television broadcaster Belsat said its premises had also been raided.

Two journalists were detained. It comes two days after police dispersed opposition rallies in the capital Minsk.