Belarus's Lukashenko to be sworn in April 8

MINSK, Apr 3 (Reuters) Belarus's President Alexander Lukashenko is to be sworn in for a third term on April 8, his press service said today, as an aide dismissed speculation he had been rattled by protests over his disputed re-election.

Lukashenko, described by Washington as Europe's last dictator, had earlier postponed his inauguration and had appeared only twice on television since the March 19 presidential election, looking strained.

''The ceremony of Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko taking office will take place on April 8,'' said a statement posted on his Web site www.president.gov.by.

Lukashenko won the presidential election by a huge margin.

Western observers judged it unfair and the defeated opposition staged a week-long protest that was unprecedented in scale for the tightly-controlled ex-Soviet republic.

Lukashenko's chief of staff Gennady Nevysglas earlier told reporters the president was in good health.

''He played (ice) hockey only on Saturday,'' Nevysglas said.

''He beat everybody by a huge score. So the state of his health is excellent.'' Diplomats and opposition parties said they believed Lukashenko's low profile since the vote showed he was under extreme stress.

His main opponent in the election, Alexander Milinkevich, was in Vienna today for a meeting with Austrian President Wolfgang Schuessel.

Austria holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, which has condemned the March 19 election and subsequent arrests of dozens of opposition activists.

Reuters OM RS1533