EU says may decide Belarus asset freeze soon

BRUSSELS, May 15 (Reuters) - The European Union could make a decision in coming days on freezing the assets of Belarussian leaders, its external affairs commissioner said today.

The Financial Times Deutschland reported at the weekend the EU had aimed to rubber stamp the sanction today at a meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels, but this had been delayed by the need to translate the decision into all EU languages.

Asked when a decision would be taken, EU External Affairs Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said: ''I am not sure there will be a decision today, but I think in the coming days -- we are at least working on that -- I think there is a chance.'' The EU said last month it was considering freezing the assets of Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko and more than 30 high-ranking officials, including ministers, prosecutors and regional election officials, after banning them from entering the 25-nation community.

EU foreign ministers said they had imposed the ban on the officials for allegedly rigging Belarus's March 19 presidential election and for cracking down on opposition activists.

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