BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

24/02/2006

Diplomat Says U.S. Is 'Concerned' About Belarus Election

24 February 2006 (RFE/RL) -- A top U.S. diplomat says it looks increasingly unlikely that Belarus will have a free and fair presidential election.

David Kramer, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, made the comments today in Minsk.

"I have also had the opportunity to impress upon the officials here in Minsk that we're watching the election [in Belarus] very carefully, that the United States expects there to be a free and fair election, but that the United States is also very concerned by current trends that seem to be moving in a different direction," Kramer said.

Kramer called on all sides to resist violence, and said that although he was not in Minsk to promote protests, if people choose to protest, they have the right to do so peacefully.

The Belarus opposition has warned it could call for demonstrations in the event of vote fraud in the 19 March poll.

Speaking elsewhere today in Minsk, Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka said he would win the vote fairly.

Lukashenka, who's seeking a third term, faces three other contenders, including Alyaksandr Milinkevich, who is backed by the main opposition groups.

(with additional material from dpa, Belapan)

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/02/B5BCF790-1169-4176-8C8F-864A45DBBA83.html