BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

18/02/2006

Lukashenko registered as candidate in Belarus presidential vote

MOSCOW, Feb. 17 (Xinhuanet) -- The Belarussian Central Election Commission registered four candidates, including incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko on Friday to stand in the presidential election next month.

Lukashenko, who is seeking a third term, will face independent candidate Alexander Milinkevich, who is supported by the opposition, Liberal Democratic Party leader Sergei Gaidukevich and Social Democratic Party leader Alexander Kozulin, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.

The presidential election is scheduled for March 19. Candidates will start making televised speeches on Feb. 21 as part of their campaign.

Lukashenko, who was first elected in 1994, got the go-ahead to run for a third term through a constitutional referendum in 2004 and is widely seen as the most favored in the vote. His current term ends in September 2006.

Source:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-02/18/content_4195297.htm