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Belarus Opposition Accused of Plotting
AP via Yahoo! News ^ | March 1, 2006 | YURAS KARMANAU

Posted on 03/02/2006 9:34:38 AM PST by lizol

Belarus Opposition Accused of Plotting

By YURAS KARMANAU, Associated Press Writer Wed Mar 1, 9:54 PM ET

MINSK, Belarus - The Belarusian security service on Wednesday accused the isolated ex-Soviet nation's opposition party of planning to seize power during this month's presidential election.

Security chief Stepan Sukharenko read a statement on state television alleging that the opposition had plotted to detonate explosives on election day in a crowd of supporters protesting against alleged fraud.

"The opposition planned to seize power," he said.

The allegations were dismissed by the opposition in Belarus, where authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko has ruled with an iron fist for more than a decade, stifling dissent and persecuting independent media and opposition parties.

"We do not have any plans to seize power. We'll rally only for the sake of our peaceful goal; to defend our choice," opposition leader Alexander Milinkevich told supporters at a rally late Wednesday. "If force is used, it will be the authorities that are responsible"

Lukashenko has ruled Belarus, a nation of 10 million, since 1994. Western nations have dubbed him "Europe's last dictator" and treat him as a pariah.

He is seeking a third term in the March 19 poll, which Milinkevich has said is likely to be fraudulent. He vowed mass protests if that happens.

"The appearance of blood and victims would have untied the hands of the protest organizers," Sukharenko said. "After this, they planned to seize government buildings, railway stations and block the railways to paralyze government bodies' work."

The distribution of fake exit polls was to have signaled the start of the protests, Sukharenko said.

The security service, still known by the Soviet-era acronym KGB, said earlier this week that it had seized fake poll results showing a lead for Milinkevich in the presidential elections.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: belarus; election; lukashenka; milinkevich


Belarusian opposition parties' united presidential candidate Alexander Milinkevich listens to questions from reporters during a news conference in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, March 1, 2006. Belarus will hold presidential elections on March 19. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)
1 posted on 03/02/2006 9:34:40 AM PST by lizol
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To: lizol


FREE BELARUS

2 posted on 03/02/2006 9:35:01 AM PST by lizol (Liberal - a man with his mind open ... at both ends)
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To: Mrs.Nooseman; metmom; phantomworker; Neophyte; Salvation; subatomicdust; antiRepublicrat; ...
Eastern European ping list


FRmail me to be added or removed from this Eastern European ping list

3 posted on 03/02/2006 9:35:32 AM PST by lizol (Liberal - a man with his mind open ... at both ends)
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To: lizol

They need to become slightly more inventive. "Plotting", "plotting"... Complete deja vu all over again. Have they already brought into it foreign special services, mercenaries of world capitalism, Free Masons and Jews?


4 posted on 03/02/2006 9:47:42 AM PST by GSlob
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To: lizol; kaiser80; Lukasz; Polak z Polski

Jestem ciekawa ilez czasu zajmnie zanim nasi kolezcy z drugiej strony lawy sie odezwa, no i moze kilka slowek ponizajacych nas polakow. Wiecie co gra. Proszepanstwa, przec to norma :}}}}}} Dzieki lizol


5 posted on 03/02/2006 9:49:32 AM PST by anonymoussierra (Jezu, ufam Tobie!!! Amen)
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To: GSlob

Don't forget about bicyclists. :)


6 posted on 03/02/2006 9:55:56 AM PST by Lukasz
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To: lizol

Belarus, the black hole of Europe.


7 posted on 03/02/2006 9:56:48 AM PST by GeorgefromGeorgia
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To: anonymoussierra; lizol

Lukashenko is doing everything to stay in power. Who would want to give up absolute grip on power and wealth that this grip generates ?

Nevertheless, historically such regimes are doomed because they cannot develop a civilized form of governance that is essential for the economic and social well-being of its citizenry.


8 posted on 03/03/2006 9:50:17 AM PST by sergey1973 (Russian American Political Blogger, Arm Chair Strategist)
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To: GSlob
"

They need to become slightly more inventive. "Plotting", "plotting"... Complete deja vu all over again. Have they already brought into it foreign special services, mercenaries of world capitalism, Free Masons and Jews?"

Freepers may be also plotting here to get rid of Lukashenko-:)))) I guess Martians and other outer space creatures may be joining the plot to throw out him too -:))))

9 posted on 03/03/2006 9:53:29 AM PST by sergey1973 (Russian American Political Blogger, Arm Chair Strategist)
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To: sergey1973

Actually, the baboon might even be marginally useful as is - in his capacity of an object lesson on what not to do.


10 posted on 03/03/2006 10:03:13 AM PST by GSlob
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