Belarus' Authoritarian president Alexander Lukashenko arrives at his Minsk residence in a helicopter carrying an assault rifle and wearing a bulletproof jacket as massive protesters demanding his resignation approached his residence.

On Sunday, the 15th day of the largest and most determined protests ever in independent Belarus, a crowd of about 2,50,000 rallied against President Lukashenko in a square in central Minsk, then marched to another rally and approached the Independence Palace that is the president's working residence.

Lukashenko was heard telling riot police, "We will deal with them".

Protesters brandish red and white flags to symbolize their opposition to the president and chant for the long-time ruler to step down and for new elections to be held.

Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, claimed a landslide victory in the August 9 presidential election after official results gave him his sixth term in office with 80% of the vote.

Opposition protesters have since taken to the streets to voice their anger over allegations of vote-rigging and reports of police violence.

Protests started August 9 at the conclusion of a presidential election that officials say handed the 65-year-old Lukashenko his sixth term in office with 80% approval; opponents claim the results were fraudulent.

The size and duration of the protests have been unprecedented for Belarus, a former Soviet republic of 9.5 million people that Lukashenko has ruled for 26 years.

Thousands of protesters have been detained and at least four people have been killed since the election.