BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

25/03/2006

Riot Police, Belarus Protesters Clash

By STEVE GUTTERMAN

MINSK, Belarus - Riot police and protesters clashed Saturday in the Belarusian capital, with police setting off percussion grenades to try to disperse the crowd.

Police blocked marchers on a road, advancing toward them as they beat their shields with truncheons. Protesters screamed: "Fascists!"

The heightened tensions came as thousands of Belarusian protesters gathered to denounce President Alexander Lukashenko after a disputed election returned him to power.

A service of the Associated Press(AP)

Source:

http://www.santamariatimes.com/articles/2006/03/25/ap/headlines/d8gil9ug0.txt