Belarus police break up anti-Russia protest

MINSK, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Baton-wielding police in Minsk on Wednesday detained more than 20 protesters opposed to joint military exercises with Russia as the country seeks to balance close Kremlin ties with improved European Union relations.

Police broke up the protest by pro-European supporters who said the country should not allow Russian troops on its soil for planned manoeuvres and instead forge closer ties with Brussels.

Thousands of Russian soldiers have started to arrive in Belarus for joint exercises that will continue until Sept. 29.

Riot police moved in to disperse the meeting minutes after protesters unfurled banners saying "Russian army go home" and "No Russian occupation".

"This is our response to the beginning of the exercises, to the entry of Russian troops onto the territory of Belarus. Belarus should not be with Russia, but with Europe," protester Dmitry Bondarenko told journalists.

Belarus police declined to comment.

Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko has been seeking better ties with western countries and the European Union, after quarrelling with traditional ally Russia two years ago over energy issues and since then in a spate of trade rows.

Belarus has since released all detainees viewed in the West as political prisoners and held an election deemed an improvement over previous contests. (Reporting by Andrey Makhovsky, Conor Sweeney)