Lukashenko wins Belarus election

Monday, 20, Mar 2006 08:39

Incumbent Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko has won a third term in office in Sunday's presidential elections, according to the electoral commission.

Preliminary results showed Mr Lukashenko, who has governed Belarus since 1994, secured almost 83 per cent of the vote.

The final results will be issued today.

The US, which has labelled the state an "outpost of tyranny", the EU and the UN commission for human rights have all criticised the former Soviet republic for silencing opponents and restricting press freedom.

The election was called after the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe criticised a recent referendum.

Yesterday, opposition leaders made allegations of vote-rigging and fraud against the government.

In front of thousands of protestors in the main square in the capital, Minsk, yesterday, main opposition candidate, Alexander Milinkevich, 58, called for polling to be annulled and further demonstrations today.

"We don't recognize these elections, they were a farce," he said.

Exit polls suggest he won only two per cent to six per cent of the vote.