Belarus cracks down on journalists covering unrest
Authorities in Belarus have withdrawn the accreditation of a number of journalists who have been reporting on post-election protests there for foreign media outlets.
Two journalists with the BBC's Russian service are among those affected.
In a statement, the BBC said it condemned "in the strongest possible conditions this stifling of independent journalism".
Fresh demonstrations against the federal government broke out on Saturday.
Belarus is gripped by mass protests, triggered by an election widely believed to have been rigged in favour of the long-time leader Alexander Lukashenko.
On Saturday, several thousand women - many in national dress - rallied in the capital, Minsk, waving flags and flowers in what they called a "march of Solidarity", urging Mr Lukashenko and the federal government to resign.
Riot police were out in force and made several arrests. Smaller rallies occurred in other parts of Belarus, and come on the eve of what's likely to be another turbulent Sunday of post-election protests.
The BBC has urged the Belarusian authorities to permit access to its reporters.
"We believe that it is vital for the persons of Belarus to have access to impartial, independent info on events in their country. BBC Russian, which reaches a lot more than five million people a week, is a major way to obtain news for people in Belarus and Russia through the post-election unrest," it said.
Government spokesman Anatoly Glaz told AFP news agency the action was taken carrying out a recommendation from the country's counter-terrorism unit.
UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said he condemned the move and had raised his concerns with Belarusian officials.
Austria's foreign ministry described the action against journalists as a blatant try to suppress objective reporting.
At least 10 local and many Russian journalists lost their accreditation on Saturday, with Radio Liberty, AFP, and Deutsche Welle among the other outlets affected.
The announcement came days after multiple journalists - including a BBC team - were detained in Minsk before a protest.
The interior ministry said that they had been taken to a police station for identity checks. However, the BBC's Steve Rosenberg, who was simply among those detained, said it had been a "clear try to hinder coverage of events".
