Hundreds of employees from Belarus state broadcaster BT have gone on strike in solidarity with tens of thousands of protesters calling on President Alexander Lukashenko step down.
Mr Lukashenko has so far resisted calls to resign after an election campaign that saw him imprison his closest rivals, shun independent observers and unleash a brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters.
Local news organisation Tut.by reported hundreds of employees, including presenters, journalists and camera operators, walked off the job after issuing demands to station management to end media censorship and recognize the election results as invalid.
The state broadcaster showed re-runs on Monday morning before issuing a fresh news bulletin.
Videos on social media suggested BT had at one point aired footage of an empty studio with white sofas, and music playing.
Reuters could not independently confirm that and the broadcaster could not immediately be reached for comment.
Factory workers waving flags and posters joined protesters to rally outside the building, which was being guarded by security forces.
"We want to work honestly, we do not want to be forced to lie," TV host Oleg Titkov told Reuters.
Some police, a sitting ambassador, prominent athletes and a former prime minister have also voiced solidarity with the protesters.
Thousands of citizens had earlier marched to a factory where Mr Lukashenko flew by helicopter to speak to striking workers. He got a rough reception.
"Thanks, I've said everything. You can (continue to) shout 'step down,'" he said, struggling to be heard.
He then walked away as the crowd chanted "Step down".
Tut.By showed footage of Mr Lukashenko confronting one worker, saying "I will not beat you up" before adding "if somebody provokes something here, we will sort it out in a hard way. So, man up."
Mr Lukashenko earlier said on Monday he would be ready to hold new elections and hand over power after a constitutional referendum, an attempt to pacify mass protests and strikes that pose the biggest challenge yet to his rule.
Belarus president-elect Alexander Lukashenko speaks to a worker as he visits the Minsk Wheeled Tractor Plant in Minsk, Belarus. Source: BELTA POOL
He made the offer, which he insisted would not be delivered on while he was under pressure from protesters, after exiled opposition politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said she was willing to lead the country.
A burly former Soviet collective farm manager, Mr Lukashenko used blunt language while speaking to workers on Monday.
"We've held elections," he said.
"Until you've killed me there won't be any new elections."
But he offered to change the constitution, an apparent concession that seems unlikely to satisfy protesters who say it's something he has spoken about before.
"We'll put the changes to a referendum, and I'll hand over my constitutional powers. But not under pressure or because of the street," Mr Lukashenko said, in remarks quoted by the official Belta news agency.
"Yes, I'm not a saint. You know my harsh side. I'm not eternal. But if you drag down the first president you'll drag down neighbouring countries and all the rest."
He also said people could hold parliamentary and presidential elections after the referendum if that was what they wanted.
Speaking in a video address from Lithuania, Ms Tsikhanouskaya urged security and law enforcement officers to switch sides.
"I am ready to take responsibility and act as a national leader during this period," Ms Tsikhanouskaya said.
Additional reporting: AFP
