Moscow  - Security forces in the tightly-ruled Belarus Friday evening disbanded demonstrators critical of the government.

Dozens of people gathered in a square in the capital Minsk carrying protest signs calling for the release of political prisoners, reported Russian press agency Interfax.

Early indications are that police have not apprehended any demonstrators at the unauthorized event.

In recent protest, police have reacted with brutality even against elderly opponents of president Alexander Lukashenko.

Critics describe the Belarus government as the last dictatorship in Europe. (dpa)