US rejects Belarus result

2006-03-20 22:06

Washington - The United States rejected on Monday the results of Belarus's presidential election that recorded a landslide win for the incumbent Alexander Lukashenko, and backed opposition calls for a new poll.

"The United States cannot accept as legitimate the election results announced ... by the Belarussian central election commission," said a statement read by state department spokesperson Sean McCormack.

McCormack praised Belarus opposition politicians for braving violence, arrest and intimidation to challenge Lukashenko's bid for a third term and said: "We support their call for a new election."

Earlier, a top official from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said in Minsk the election did not meet international standards.

"The March 19 presidential election does not meet the required international standards for free and fair elections," Alcee Hastings told a news conference.

- AFP