BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

25/03/2007

Riot police break up opposition rally in Minsk

MINSK. March 25 (Interfax) - Minsk police are trying to break up an unauthorized opposition rally near the Sport Palace in Minsk.

A riot police regiment has split the marchers into three groups and is pushing them in different directions.

Ex-presidential candidate Alexander Milinkevich has told sympathizers that he would not go to Bangalore Square - an authorized venue, and urged them to march to the Sports Palace, where he intends to stage a rally.

Several Russian politicians, among them parliamentary deputy Vladimir Ryzhkov, have joined the opposition action.

"Our column of some 3,000 - 5,000 demonstrators is marching along Independence Avenue. I could see some 300 demonstrators being torn way from the column by riot policemen. Four people were dragged away," Ryzhkov told Interfax from Minsk.

The marchers are being led by Milinkevich and other opposition leaders, Ryzhkov said.

Earlier, several dozen opposition activists had tried to reach Oktyarskaya Square in downtown Minsk, but were pushed away by riot policemen.

The city authorities had allowed several opposition parties to hold a rally and a march near the Academy of Sciences' building. But some activists disregarded the decision and gathered near Oktyabrskaya Square.

Police had warned organizers that if the rally were held, they would be prosecuted.

Source:

http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/0/28.html?id_issue=11699099