ed316
03-20-2006, 10:12 AM
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/printer_friendly/news_logo.gif
Belarus ballot 'severely flawed'
European election monitors have said the re-election of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko was flawed and failed to meet international standards.
An EU commissioner said it was "very likely" the EU would impose sanctions.
Mr Lukashenko - branded "Europe's last dictator" by the US - said the vote was fair and denounced "foreign pressure".
The main opposition candidate, Alexander Milinkevich, called for a re-run, and for street protests against an "illegal, illegitimate president"
Election officials said Mr Lukashenko won 82.6% of the vote, which had a turnout of 92.6%. It gives the president, in power since 1994, a third term in office.
However the OSCE, Europe's main election-monitoring body, said the election "did not meet the required international standards for free and fair elections".
Despite the unashamed foreign attempts to dictate to us and colossal external pressure, they have failed to break us
Alexander Lukashenko
The group said there had been harassment and detention of opposition activists, biased media coverage and, while election day itself was orderly, obstruction of independent monitors.
"The Belarussian election was severely flawed due to arbitrary use of state power and restrictions to basic rights," the OSCE said in a statement.
"Democracy in Belarus is in its infancy," the OSCE's special co-ordinator, US Congressman Alcee Hastings, said at a press conference in the Belarussian capital Minsk.
Protests
Austria's Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, representing Austria's presidency of the EU, said in Brussels that the vote was marred by a "climate of intimidation".
And EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said some sort of action against Belarus - possibly diplomatic sanctions - "is now very likely indeed".
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Alexander Lukashenko: 82.6%
Alexander Milinkevich: 6.0%
Sergei Gaidukevich: 3.5%
Alexander Kozulin: 2.3%
Turnout: 92.6%
Earlier a rival observer mission, from the ?*Russian-led Commonwealth of Independent States, said the election was open and transparent.
Mr Lukashenko appeared on television on Monday and said complaints about the conduct of the vote were "absurd and groundless".
He said it was held "in strict compliance with our constitution, in a fair and democratic manner".
"Despite the unashamed foreign attempts to dictate to us and colossal external pressure, they have failed to break us," he said.
The opposition is urging supporters to take to the streets again on Monday evening but it was not clear if Mr Lukashenko would let them protest for a second night.
On Sunday evening about 10,000 people braved a heavy snow storm, freezing temperatures and the threat of government reprisals to show their support for the opposition and gather in Oktyabrskaya Square.
Mr Milinkevich - who election officials said received 6% of the vote - called for continuing demonstrations.
"In Belarus, we did not have an election but an unconstitutional seizure of power," he said in a news conference broadcast across Belarus.
"I very much ask all to come out into the square today, in as large numbers as possible. I believe that Belarussians have awakened, overcome fear and can stand up for their future."
But the BBC's Emma Simpson, in Minsk, says there has been no evidence so far of any Ukrainian-style Orange Revolution.
Popular support
Mr Lukashenko has warned he will not tolerate any attempt at a "coup" and has vowed to "break the neck - like a duckling's" of anyone who tries to seize power.
Police have said that protesters "trying to destabilise the situation" will be treated as terrorists and could face the death penalty.
Dozens of opposition activists were arrested in the run-up to the poll, and critics also say challengers to Mr Lukashenko had no access to the Belarus media.
A number of foreign monitors and journalists were denied entry to watch the vote.
But our correspondent says that despite his authoritarian regime Mr Lukashenko has genuine popular support, particularly in rural areas. Many Belarussians credit him with maintaining economic stability and paying pensions on time, and for avoiding the post-communist turmoil seen in neighbouring countries.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/europe/4824642.stm
Published: 2006/03/20 13:15:01 GMT
© BBC MMVI
*O rly?
Belarus ballot 'severely flawed'
European election monitors have said the re-election of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko was flawed and failed to meet international standards.
An EU commissioner said it was "very likely" the EU would impose sanctions.
Mr Lukashenko - branded "Europe's last dictator" by the US - said the vote was fair and denounced "foreign pressure".
The main opposition candidate, Alexander Milinkevich, called for a re-run, and for street protests against an "illegal, illegitimate president"
Election officials said Mr Lukashenko won 82.6% of the vote, which had a turnout of 92.6%. It gives the president, in power since 1994, a third term in office.
However the OSCE, Europe's main election-monitoring body, said the election "did not meet the required international standards for free and fair elections".
Despite the unashamed foreign attempts to dictate to us and colossal external pressure, they have failed to break us
Alexander Lukashenko
The group said there had been harassment and detention of opposition activists, biased media coverage and, while election day itself was orderly, obstruction of independent monitors.
"The Belarussian election was severely flawed due to arbitrary use of state power and restrictions to basic rights," the OSCE said in a statement.
"Democracy in Belarus is in its infancy," the OSCE's special co-ordinator, US Congressman Alcee Hastings, said at a press conference in the Belarussian capital Minsk.
Protests
Austria's Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, representing Austria's presidency of the EU, said in Brussels that the vote was marred by a "climate of intimidation".
And EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said some sort of action against Belarus - possibly diplomatic sanctions - "is now very likely indeed".
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Alexander Lukashenko: 82.6%
Alexander Milinkevich: 6.0%
Sergei Gaidukevich: 3.5%
Alexander Kozulin: 2.3%
Turnout: 92.6%
Earlier a rival observer mission, from the ?*Russian-led Commonwealth of Independent States, said the election was open and transparent.
Mr Lukashenko appeared on television on Monday and said complaints about the conduct of the vote were "absurd and groundless".
He said it was held "in strict compliance with our constitution, in a fair and democratic manner".
"Despite the unashamed foreign attempts to dictate to us and colossal external pressure, they have failed to break us," he said.
The opposition is urging supporters to take to the streets again on Monday evening but it was not clear if Mr Lukashenko would let them protest for a second night.
On Sunday evening about 10,000 people braved a heavy snow storm, freezing temperatures and the threat of government reprisals to show their support for the opposition and gather in Oktyabrskaya Square.
Mr Milinkevich - who election officials said received 6% of the vote - called for continuing demonstrations.
"In Belarus, we did not have an election but an unconstitutional seizure of power," he said in a news conference broadcast across Belarus.
"I very much ask all to come out into the square today, in as large numbers as possible. I believe that Belarussians have awakened, overcome fear and can stand up for their future."
But the BBC's Emma Simpson, in Minsk, says there has been no evidence so far of any Ukrainian-style Orange Revolution.
Popular support
Mr Lukashenko has warned he will not tolerate any attempt at a "coup" and has vowed to "break the neck - like a duckling's" of anyone who tries to seize power.
Police have said that protesters "trying to destabilise the situation" will be treated as terrorists and could face the death penalty.
Dozens of opposition activists were arrested in the run-up to the poll, and critics also say challengers to Mr Lukashenko had no access to the Belarus media.
A number of foreign monitors and journalists were denied entry to watch the vote.
But our correspondent says that despite his authoritarian regime Mr Lukashenko has genuine popular support, particularly in rural areas. Many Belarussians credit him with maintaining economic stability and paying pensions on time, and for avoiding the post-communist turmoil seen in neighbouring countries.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/europe/4824642.stm
Published: 2006/03/20 13:15:01 GMT
© BBC MMVI
*O rly?