BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

27/03/2006

Belarus accuses West of fomenting unrest as protests continue

Peaceful protests have taken place in Belarus over disputed results of last week's presidential election which saw Alexander Lukashenko retain power. Around a hundred people gathered in central Minsk last night to light candles in a show of solidarity for those detained after violent demonstrations over the weekend. Belarus's interior ministry says 52 people were arrested on Saturday but human rights groups say the figure is much higher.

Earlier Alexander Milinkevich paid a visit to the jail where his fellow opposition leader Alexander Kozulin is being held. Authorities say he was arrested because he called on people to rise up against the state. The Foreign Ministry has also blamed the European Union and Washington of fomenting unrest in order to destabilise the country.

Source:

http://euronews.net/create_html.php?page=info&article=350914&lng=1

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