EU agrees sanctions vs Belarus leader Lukashenko

BRUSSELS, Mar 24 (Reuters) The European Union agreed today to impose sanctions on Belarus leaders, including President Alexander Lukashenko, over a presidential election it said was flawed.

Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik told a news conference after an EU summit: ''The European Council has decided to take restrictive measures against those reponsible for the violations of international electoral standards including President Lukashenko.'' She gave no details but EU officials have said the measures being considered were visa bans on those accused of allegedly rigging the poll, and possible asset freezes, but not economic sanctions against the former Soviet republic.

REUTERS AD RK1859