Police beat off McWannabes

Belarus police beat students with truncheons as they descended on the former Soviet republic's first McDonald's restaurant, in Minsk, believing free food was on offer.

About 4,000 people, many of them students keen to try their first "Big Mac", filled the central avenue of the capital as the fast-food giant celebrated opening its doors in a 100th country.

Cheers mixed with screams as riot police set to with truncheons to stop them crushing their way into the restaurant.

Reuter - Minsk