Tens of thousands of protesters in Belarus swarmed the streets of the capital Sunday, pressing for the resignation of the country's authoritarian leader in what human rights activists described as the largest anti-government rally since late August.

Over 200,000 people took part in the demonstration in Minsk, the Viasna human rights centre said. They carried red and white flags and marched while chanting "Go away!" and "New election!," references to a disputed presidential vote that returned President Alexander Lukashenko to a sixth term and triggered almost daily protests.

Several subway stations were closed, mobile internet was not working, and water cannons and armoured vehicles were seen in the centre of Minsk. Rallies also took place in other cities in Belarus, and police detained scores of people across the country.