Lukashenko declared winner of Belarus's presidential election

MINSK, Mar 20: Veteran leader Alexander Lukashenko was declared overwhelming winner of Belarus's presidential election today, but his liberal rival called for big street protests, denouncing the vote as illegitimate.

Tension ran high after 10,000 protesters, unprecedented numbers for the tightly-controlled ex-Soviet state, defied warnings and massed in the city centre yesterday evening.

They dismissed as blatant fraud results that gave Lukashenko, described by Washington as Europe's last true dictator, more than 80 per cent of the vote. The European Union said today it was ''very likely'' to impose new sanctions.

Opposition hopeful Alexander Milinkevich, credited with just six per cent, called for even larger numbers to gather in the city centre later in the day.

''We consider that there will be an illegitimate president in power ... The only way to talk to these authorities is from the streets. We must take to the streets,'' Milinkevich told a news conference.

His campaign manager, Sergei Kalyakin, appealed for bigger protests -- in the same way that vast crowds helped overturn fraudulent results in ex-Soviet Georgia and Ukraine.

''The number in the streets yesterday is not enough to make the authorities listen to the people,'' he said. ''We need at least 10 times that number.'' The head of Belarus's Central Election Commission, Lidiya Yermoshina, had earlier officially declared Lukashenko, 51, the winner of yesterday's contest.

''Election results show incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko scored a decisive victory, securing 82.6 per cent of the vote,'' Yermoshina told a news conference broadcast live. Some in the room applauded. ACTION AGAINST UPHEAVAL Lukashenko, accused in the West of systematically undermining human rights, had warned he would tolerate no mass upheavals and had threatened in the final days of the campaign to ''wring the neck'' of anyone violating public order.

His security service, still known by its Soviet-era KGB acronym, said it would equate protests with ''terrorism''.

Within hours of his victory being announced, attention focused on what judgment would be delivered by international observers. The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe which has in the past denounced election victories by Lukashenko was scheduled to give a news conference at 1730 HRS.

In Brussels, EU External Relations Commission Benita Ferrero-Walder said she believed the 25-nation trade bloc was ''very likely'' to take some punitive action.

''I don't think we are thinking of economic sanctions ...

extending visa bans will certainly be one part of it,'' she told reporters during a break in a foreign ministers' meeting.

The bloc is reluctant to impose harsher measures such as economic sanctions for fear they would hit the people rather than Lukashenko's government.

It was not at all certain that opposition activists would stage any sustained protests, given the repeated warnings and tough laws against illegal assembly.

Protesters yesterday stood for three hours in heavy snow and biting winds, waving the red-and-white national flag long banned by Lukashenko and holding placards reading: ''We believe! We can do it! We shall win!'' Past turmoil in other ex-Soviet states over disputed election results clearly disturbed Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has been at pains to restore as much as he can of Moscow's fading influence in former Soviet republics.

While having little personal affection for the outspoken Lukashenko, he may see his success in Belarus as serving Kremlin interests. He may well formally congratulate Lukashenko -- something that will put him at odds with the United States and his other G8 partners.

Lukashenko can draw on strong domestic support especially in rural areas where many see his 12-year rule as having spared them the turmoil, hardship and ''wild'' capitalism seen in many ex-Soviet republics.

REUTERS