Minsk (Belarus): Belarusians voted in parliamentary elections that opposition leaders insisted were already rigged, despite promises by the country's authoritarian leader that international voting standards were followed.

President Alexander Lukashenko welcomed more than 400 election monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to prove his country is embracing democratic reforms. In national elections four years ago, the opposition wasn't even allowed to run. It will be very difficult for the observers not to recognize these elections, Lukashenko said after casting his ballot yesterday.

A total of 263 candidates, including 70 from the opposition, were competing in yesterday s elections for 110 parliamentary seats. As soon as the polls closed, about 500 opposition supporters turned out on the central square of the capital to protest the vote. Many carried European Union flags. We are tired of living in fear, we are tired of repression, said Natalya Kurilovich, 34. I'm tired of Lukashenko stealing votes. I want a European future for my children.

About 200 to 300 young protesters marched to the headquarters of the KGB, the country's secret police, and chanted 'shame' outside the building before moving on and eventually returning to the main square. The protest ended peacefully about three hours after it had begun. No uniformed police were visible, but there appeared to have been plainclothes officers among the crowd.

Source : PTI