Violence, arrests end Minsk, Belarus protests
{{date|March 24, 2006}}

After four days of protesting the disputed election victory of [[Alexander Lukashenko]] in {{w|Minsk}}, [[Belarus]], protesters have been dispersed by riot police using clubs. Police arrested some 300 protesters in the process of ending the demonstration. 

The [[European Union]] released a statement condemning the arrest of these protestors, and "decided to take restrictive measures against those responsible for the violations of international electoral standards, including president Lukashenko." The twenty-five member states have called for the immediate release of all protesters, including an estimated 400 arrested during the five-day protest against the election.

Spokeswoman Janelle Hironimus of the [[US]] Department of State also responded to this morning's raid, stating: "As we have said before, we condemn all acts by the government of Belarus to deprive the citizens of that country of their right to peacefully express their views."

Canadian official Pamela Greenwell, a spokeswoman for the Foreign Affairs Department, confirmed that a freelance Canadian journalist was also arrested during the raid.

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/03/24/ubelarus.xml&sSheet=/portal/2006/03/24/ixportaltop.html
|title=Riot police break up protests in Belarus
|author=
|pub=Telegraph
|date=March 24, 2006}} 
*{{source|url=http://euobserver.com/9/21225
|title=EU calls for release of Belarus prisoners
|author=Andrew Rettman
|pub=EUobserver.com
|date=March 24, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2006/03/24/1503500-ap.html
|title=Tent camp in Belarus stormed
|author=Jim Heintz
|pub=CNEWS
|date=March 24, 2006}}

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[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Belarus]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Elections]]
[[Category:Alexander Lukashenko]]
[[Category:Minsk]]

[[pl:Białoruś: Rozpędzono opozycję]]
[[zh:白俄罗斯防暴警察清除首都广场抗议者]]
After four days of protesting the disputed election victory of Alexander Lukashenko in , Belarus, protesters have been dispersed by riot police using clubs. Police arrested some 300 protesters in the process of ending the demonstration. 

The European Union released a statement condemning the arrest of these protestors, and "decided to take restrictive measures against those responsible for the violations of international electoral standards, including president Lukashenko." The twenty-five member states have called for the immediate release of all protesters, including an estimated 400 arrested during the five-day protest against the election.

Spokeswoman Janelle Hironimus of the US Department of State also responded to this morning's raid, stating: "As we have said before, we condemn all acts by the government of Belarus to deprive the citizens of that country of their right to peacefully express their views."

Canadian official Pamela Greenwell, a spokeswoman for the Foreign Affairs Department, confirmed that a freelance Canadian journalist was also arrested during the raid.

pl:Białoruś: Rozpędzono opozycję
Europe Belarus Politics and conflicts Elections Alexander Lukashenko Minsk