BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

November 26 2005

Belarus leader's crackdown backed

By Stefan Wagstyl

Alexander Lukashenko, the dictatorial president of Belarus, yesterday secured preliminary parliamentary backing for a law aimed at reinforcing his defences against any attempts to stage a Ukrainian-style popular revolution.

Mr Lukashenko, who is seeking re-election next year, has been cracking down on possible threats to his regime including opposition groups, non-government organisations and the independent media.

The Belarusian leader has been condemned in the west for human rights infringements but enjoys some support from Russia, which fears that an anti-Lukashenko revolt could damage Moscow's interests and benefit the US and the European Union. Stefan Wagstyl, London

Source:

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/b4b55dc4-5e43-11da-a9e8-0000779e2340.html