BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

03/10/2005

Belarus opposition names presidential candidate

ISN SECURITY WATCH (Monday, 3 October, 01.30 CET) - Belarusian opposition parties on Sunday reached a consensus to field a single candidate against long-time leader Aleksandar Lukashenko in presidential elections next year, RFE/RL reported.

Leading opposition parties and non-governmental organizations voted to support Alexander Milinkevich as their single, independent candidate for president in 2006.

In announcing their candidate, opposition forces also urged Lukashenko not to seek re-election and expressed concern that elections would not be free and fair, calling on the authorities to guarantee the opposition's right to field its candidate, to abandon the process of early voting, and to broaden voters' rights, RFE/RL reported.

In October 2004, Lukashenko won the right to rule the country indefinitely in a widely criticized referendum to change the constitution to eliminate presidential terms. Among other things, the victory makes it possible for Lukashenko to run for a third term as president in 2006.

Source:

http://www.isn.ethz.ch/news/sw/details.cfm?ID=13018

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