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U.S. calls for new election in Belarus

MINSK, Belarus - The United States called for a new vote and the European Union threatened sanctions on Belarus, where thousands of opposition supporters gathered in the capital for a second night Monday to protest President Alexander Lukashenko's re-election.

But only 5,000 demonstrators showed at Oktyabrskaya Square, half the number that turned out on election night. Prospects for a Ukraine-style "Orange Revolution" appeared remote as many appeared to have little appetite for a prolonged vigil and a possibly violent confrontation with police.

Lukashenko said Monday that his foes had failed to topple him in a foreign-backed "revolution."

With overnight temperatures at 28 degrees, protesters set up tents and vowed to become a round-the-clock presence.

"The people want to stay until victory, and I'm with them," said Alexander Milinkevich, the opposition leader who has branded Lukashenko's overwhelming victory in Sunday's elections a farce and called for a new vote.

Officials put on a show of force, with riot police preventing people from approaching the main square. Police had only a small and unobtrusive presence the previous night, when an estimated 10,000 protesters braved the snow.

The Bush administration called for new elections after independent observers said the election did not meet standards for a free and fair vote.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the election was flawed by a "climate of fear," and hinted that penalties such as travel restrictions "are things we will look at." The EU also said it was likely to impose sanctions.

By contrast, Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Lukashenko and said the results would help strengthen the alliance of the two former Soviet nations.

[Last modified March 21, 2006, 02:30:40]