Wife doubts Belarus activist has ended prison fast

MINSK, Dec 12 (Reuters) Prison officials today said a jailed opposition activist in Belarus was ending a hunger strike intended to bolster opposition to President Alexander Lukashenko, but the inmate's wife doubted the statement was true.

Alexander Kozulin, one of two opposition figures to run against Lukashenko's bid for re-election in March, was jailed for 5-1/2 years for his part in organising mass rallies after official results gave him a landslide victory.

He began refusing food on October 20 to press demands for Belarus's often divided opposition to join forces and for Western countries to take a tougher stand against the president they regularly accuse of rights abuses.

''He has started to end his hunger strike but is still refusing hospital treatment. He feels just fine,'' Klim Koval, deputy head of the prison in Vitebsk in eastern Belarus, said by telephone.

But Irina Kozulina, denied an opportunity to visit her husband in prison on Monday, said she would only believe his protest was over once she was able to speak to him. She and sympathisers feared prison authorities were force-feeding him.

''My suspicions were aroused by the fact that this report appeared after my return to Minsk. I doubt Kozulin has given up his fast voluntarily, but would be very happy if it were true. I fear they are using force to end it,'' she said by telephone.

''I spoke to prison officials today and told them I would not trust their information until I am able to speak to my husband by telephone.'' REUTERS SHB VV1532