Belarus electorate voting in presidential election

Moscow, Mar 19 (UNI) Incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko is facing tough chanllenge from his arch-rival and opposition candidate Alexander Milinkevich in the elections being held in the former Soviet Republic of Belarus.

Voting has been proceeding calmly in Belarus since polls opened here this morning, the chairperson of the Belarus Central Electoral Commission Lidiya Yermoshina said.

"The polling stations opened at 0800 hrs local time. No complications, excesses or disturbances have been spotted since then," she said in a televised remark. "There are few criticisms and these contain no evidence of law abuse," she said.

Asked to comment on suspected vote rigging cases reported by some of the observers, Yermoshina said "It looks like certain observers have been poorly trained and are pulling facts out of context." She termed the Sunday's election in Belarus a "celebration of democracy" and said its outcome would depend on "our citizens' wisdom." About 20 per cent of registered voters reportedly cast ballots before election day, raising observers' concerns of possible vote-rigging.

On the eve of the presidential vote, Belarussian authorities tightened control over opposition leaders and media to prevent protests against alleged vote rigging, such as the ones that had led to the "rose revolution" in Georgia in 2003 and the "orange revolution" in Ukraine in 2004.

More than 30,000 domestic and 1,300 foreign observers are monitoring Belarussian election. Western countries have dubbed Lukashenko as "Europe's last dictator." Around 2,500 people came to the Bangalor square in the Belarussian capital Minsk to support Milinkevich, RIA Novosti news agency reported.

"I am appealing to all those advocating reform to come to tonight's rally. This will be a peaceful gathering, with people bringing along flowers," he said.

UNI XC SHB GC1903