They included Vladimir Neklyayev, 64, who was taken from his hospital bed by police in the early hours after being earlier beaten by police, his wife said.
Others were Andrei Sannikov, head of the pro-rights Charter 97 group, Grigory Kostusev, head of a nationalist party, and Nikolai Statkevich, 54, a retired colonel who leads a social-democrat party, their aides said.
Protest: Presidential candidate Vladimir Neklyaev, 64, lies injured on the ground after he was allegedly beaten during an opposition rally in Minsk, Belarus, yesterday. He was later taken to hospital
Injuries: Mr Neklyaev was hurt as thousands of opposition supporters tried to storm the main government building to protest what the opposition claims was large-scale vote-rigging in yesterday's presidential election
Police spokesman Konstantin Shalkevich confirmed that several hundred people in all had been detained on Sunday night after riot police moved in on Minsk's Independence Square to break up an anti-Lukashenko rally of several thousands.
An unofficial rights defence website called Vyasna (Spring) www.spring96.org published a list of 221 people whom it said had been arrested.
The opposition says Lukashenko supporters rigged the vote through fraudulent vote counting. Early on Monday the state electoral commission said Lukashenko had won 79.7 percent with 100 percent of votes counted.
Up to 10,000 people marched through the snow-bound capital Minsk as voting ended and a pro-government pollster forecast a landslide victory for Lukashenko, who has ruled the former Soviet republic with a tight grip since 1994.
Force: Riot police block demonstrators trying to storm the government building in the Belarussian capital, Minsk, yesterday. Hundreds of protesters were arrested
Violent: Protesters clash with riot police during the rally in Minsk, after it became apparent that President Alexander Lukashenko would be returning for a fourth term
Then riot police waded in, beating people with batons. Some protesters threw stones and snowballs at police.
Mr Neklyaev was hurt after police dispersed a column of his supporters heading to join the protests that began in central October Square.
Black-clothed security forces fired shots into the air and launched stun grenades after breaking up Neklyayev's group. His wife, Olga, said police had later taken him from the hospital.
Photographers and cameramen were forced to the ground to stop them capturing the police action against Neklyayev and his supporters, a witness said.
The Interior Ministry gave a different account, saying unarmed police had encountered an angry crowd. 'The crowd moved towards the police, with the result that some police officers were injured and hospitalised,' a spokesman said.
A bleeding opposition supporter walks in front of riot police during a rally denouncing the results of presidential elections near the Parliament building in central Minsk
Protesters clash with riot police during a rally in Minsk. Tens of thousands of protestors massed against elections that exit polls said were swept by President Lukashenko
A protester wearing a mask shouts slogans during a protest march in the central of Minsk
The head of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, said the incident involving Neklyayev was unacceptable. 'This cowardly attack on a defenceless candidate for President of Belarus is outrageous and disgraceful,' he said.
Several people were left sprawled on the ground, including an elderly woman who had been hit on the head. Others were bundled into police cars.
The opposition reported at least three presidential candidates were detained.
In the main rally, some demonstrators broke the glass doors to the government building but were restrained by others in the crowd.
The European Union is watching the events closely, weighing how far to engage with the country of 10 million people amid tension between Lukashenko and chief benefactor Russia.
Veteran leader Lukashenko, 56, had earlier scoffed at the opposition's plans to protest against the conduct of the election. He predicted nobody would turn out.
Angry: Opposition supporters shout slogans against President Lukashenko, who has ruled the former Soviet republic with a tight grip since 1994
Chase: A riot policeman runs after an opposition protester yesterday. Witnesses said security forces also fired shots into the air and launched stun grenades
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko wipes his forehead as he speaks to media after casting his ballot during the presidential elections at a polling station in the Belarusian capital
He has ruled for 16 years, during which Belarus's command economy has been propped up by energy subsidies from chief ally Russia. The country serves as a buffer between Russia and NATO and a transit route for Russian gas heading to Europe.
But relations with Moscow have been on the rocks in recent years, and the former state farm director has been courting the West.
The European Union has dangled the prospect of financial aid if yesterday's vote is deemed fair. It will take its cue from monitors from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), who report back today.
The OSCE said yesterday that the election already appeared 'better' than in 2006.
One opposition figure told protesters on October Square that, according to an unofficial opposition exit poll, Lukashenko won only 30.7 percent against Neklyayev's 18 percent. He called for a second round of voting.
State security forces gave a warning on the eve of the vote that they would crack down on attempts to 'whip up tension'.
Lukashenko crushed dissent harshly in the early years of his rule, jailing opponents and muzzling the media. He was dubbed Europe's 'last dictator' by the Bush administration.
A wounded protester is pictured after clashes with riot police during an opposition rally in Minsk
An opposition demonstrator tries to storm the government building, by breaking a glass door, in Minsk during a rally to protest against the presidential elections
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