BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

10/01/2008

Police disperse protesters in central Minsk

MINSK, January 10 (Itar-Tass) - Police are dispersing participants in an unsanctioned protest action of Belarussian entrepreneurs. They have been ousted from the traffic way of the main avenue of the Belarussian capital, Independence Avenue, which they blocked earlier on Thursday.

At the present moment, police urge participants in the action to leave the area where the government building is situated. Several thousand people have flocked there.

Law enforcement agencies have reported that criminal proceedings were instituted over a rude violation of public order and disregard of police demands.

The action has continued for more than four hours. Belarussian private entrepreneurs protest against the president's recent decree, which allows them to hire employees only from their families or close relatives. The number of employees working for private entrepreneurs is restricted to three. Otherwise they will have to register a private unitary enterprise.

Representatives of the Belarussian opposition joined the protest march earlier. The leader of the United Civil Party, Anatoly Lebedko, is among them.

Exactly one month ago, Belarus private entrepreneurs staged the first action of protest, trying to find a compromise with the authorities. However, they failed to do that. From January 1, 2008, a general strike of entrepreneurs has continued in the country.

Source:

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=12243957&PageNum=0