Visit our website: HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------------------------- 11:36 [Friday 31st August, 2001] Lukashenko bristles at U.S. MINSK, Belarus (AP)- With the presidential election just over a week away, Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday donned combat fatigues to attend a military exercise and accused the United States of pressuring his ex-Soviet republic. "We have elements of information pressure on Belarus, starting with petty statements on Radio Liberty and ending with a statement by U.S. Secretary of State (Colin) Powell," Lukashenko said at a meeting with officials before the start of the military maneuvers. In a statement posted on the Web site of the U.S. Embassy in Belarus, Powell congratulated the Belarusian people on their independence from the Soviet Union 10 years ago but accused the government of abandoning "the transition to democracy and the rule of law." Lukashenko sharply reacted to Powell's statement in a television interview broadcast Wednesday, calling it "insolent and unprecedented." Belarusian Defense Minister Leonid Maltsev told Lukashenko that the military maneuvers, which involved 10,000 troops, were imitating a response to an "intervention." Lukashenko routinely accuses the West of hatching plans to overthrow his government. Lukashenko, who has ruled the nation of 10 million since 1994, is widely expected to win a second term in Sept. 9 elections. Lukashenko's crackdown on political opponents and independent media has made him a pariah in the West, but he remains popular among Belarusians thanks to his firebrand populism and efforts to preserve a Soviet-era social safety net. The state-controlled Belarusian media also lavished Lukashenko with praise on his 47th birthday Thursday. "Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko has a strong authority both at home and abroad," wrote the official daily Zvyazda (Star). "He is strongly committed to defending human rights and combating terrorism and drug-trafficking." Detailed coverage __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger http://im.yahoo.com ------------------------------------------------- This Discussion List is the follow-up for the old stopnato @listbot.com that has been shut down ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9spWA Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: archive@jab.org T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
