Opponents of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko are gathering for another day of protest in Minsk over disputed elections last weekend.

The "March for Freedom", planned for Sunday afternoon, comes amid growing anger over alleged poll-rigging and police violence at subsequent protests.

Meanwhile several hundred supporters of Mr Lukashenko have been holding their own rally in the city.

Reports say some state sector workers are being forced to attend.

The rallies are taking place after Mr Lukashenko said Russia had agreed to offer security assistance in the case of external military threats.

Mr Lukashenko also voiced concerns over Nato military exercises taking place in neighbouring Poland and Lithuania.

The unrest erupted after Mr Lukashenko claimed a landslide victory in last week's election, the result of which has been condemned amid widespread allegations of vote-rigging.

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The Central Election Commission says Mr Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, won 80.1% of the vote and the main opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya 10.12%.

But Ms Tikhanovskaya insists that where votes were properly counted, she won support ranging from 60% to 70%.

The BBC's Abdujalil Abdurasulov in Minsk says security at the rally has been turning away journalists, and a security officer explained that not everyone planning to come had arrived.

There are reports of state sector workers being forced to attend or face the threat of losing their jobs. For days, workers at state-run factories have staged walkouts and many have joined street marches against the president.

His opponents are hoping to bring out thousands of people for their march, called by Ms Tikhanovskaya who fled into exile in Lithuania a day after the election.

People have started gathering in central Minsk and other cities with the opposition's red and white flags.

They have taken to the streets all week, and on Saturday evening they staged rallies outside the state television building.

Some 100 TV staff came out to join them saying they planned a strike on Monday.

Several journalists have resigned over negative coverage of the demonstrations.

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Earlier on Saturday, thousands of people waved flags, lit candles and laid flowers at the scene close to the metro station where one of the protesters, Alexander Taraikovsky, died on Monday.

Many opposition supporters chanted "Leave!" - a call for President Lukashenko to resign - and some carried signs with slogans against police violence.

What is happening in Minsk?

A pro-government demonstration was called for midday local time (10:00 GMT).

"All those who love their Motherland and are against splitting the country into two opposing sides will gather for this rally," organising group Belaya Rus said on Facebook.

Video posted on social media showed columns of buses on the roads and arriving in Minsk from other cities.

However, reports say the numbers at the rally have been small so far, with Russian media reporting a few thousand attendees.

The circumstances of Mr Taraikovsky's death are unclear.

Officials say he died when an explosive device went off in his hand during a protest, but his partner, Elena German, told the Associated Press news agency that she believed the 34-year-old was shot by police.

BBC