BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

14/10/2007

Anti-Government Protestors Hold Pro-EU Rally In Belarus

Susheela Hegde - AHN News Writer

Minsk, Belarus (AHN) - Thousands of protestors in Belarus demanded Sunday that the country, being a European nation, be aligned with the European Union.

Addressing the 5,000-strong crowd, opposition leader Alexander Milinkevich said, "We want to live by the laws of Europe, not by the laws of dictatorship."

"Europe means free elections for free citizens," he said. Protestors, who were carrying the EU flag, also demanded an end to the Russian military bases in the country.

President Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, is accused of cracking down on press and private businesses. He is also accused of rigging elections.

"The future is with Europe, not the last dictatorship," a protestor is quoted by Associated Press as saying.

The U.S. has called him 'the last dictator of Europe' and imposed sanctions against him and others in his government. The EU too has slapped sanctions and barred him from entering the EU nations.

The city had witnessed anti-government protest last year following the alleged rigged vote in which Lukashenko got re-elected. However, Sunday's protest is seen as a rare rally in Belarus, which is a traditional ally of Russia.

Source:

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7008823916