BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

17/02/2006

Dozens arrested in Belarus protests

MINSK, Belarus, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Dozens of opposition activists have been arrested during unauthorized demonstrations in Minsk, the capital of Belarus.

About 200 people gathered in the city center Thursday evening with lit candles, defying a ban on public rallies, to remember opposition politicians who have disappeared or been imprisoned during Alexander Lukashenko's presidency, the BBC reported.

The protesters also showed their support for Alexander Milinkevich, the main opposition candidate in presidential elections scheduled for March 19.

Several protesters were beaten and forced into police wagons.

A second rally near the national KGB building also was broken up by police, who arrested at least 30 activists, one of the protesters said.

President since 1994, Lukashenko has been accused by domestic and overseas opponents of being dictatorial.

He dismisses criticism of his authoritarian rule, claiming it to be the only alternative to instability.

Source:

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20060217-061546-9556r