Text Messages Warn of Violence in Belarus
Jim Heintz
Associated Press
ABC News
________
Minsk (Belarus):
Mysterious cell-phone text messages warning of bloodshed on election day spread in the Belarusian capital Saturday, a day before presidential voting that the opposition alleged was likely to be fraudulent.
The ominous messages underlined the tension surrounding the Sunday balloting in which President Alexander Lukashenko, characterized by the West as Europe's last dictator, seeks to extend his 12 years in power.
Authorities, meanwhile, warned of foreign plots to overthrow the government. On Saturday afternoon, police armed with machine guns ordered the evacuation of a building housing offices of the opposition party Trud, said a party spokesman, Sergei Vaznyak. Lukashenko is almost certain to be declared the winner of the race against three other candidates. But opposition figures are equally certain the vote count will be manipulated and have called on supporters to gather Sunday evening in the capital.
Mar 18, 2006
Jim Heintz
Associated Press
ABC News
________
Minsk (Belarus):
Mysterious cell-phone text messages warning of bloodshed on election day spread in the Belarusian capital Saturday, a day before presidential voting that the opposition alleged was likely to be fraudulent.
The ominous messages underlined the tension surrounding the Sunday balloting in which President Alexander Lukashenko, characterized by the West as Europe's last dictator, seeks to extend his 12 years in power.
Authorities, meanwhile, warned of foreign plots to overthrow the government. On Saturday afternoon, police armed with machine guns ordered the evacuation of a building housing offices of the opposition party Trud, said a party spokesman, Sergei Vaznyak. Lukashenko is almost certain to be declared the winner of the race against three other candidates. But opposition figures are equally certain the vote count will be manipulated and have called on supporters to gather Sunday evening in the capital.
Mar 18, 2006
