Belarus: Lukashenko wins referendum to extend mandate

In a referendum seen by the West as flouting democratic norms, Belarussians overwhelmingly voted to allow President Lukashenko to change the constitution and run for a third term in office.

According to partial results, voters in Belarus have approved a referendum that would remove term limits and allow President Alexander Lukashenko to stand for a third term in office. The next presidential election is due in the autumn of 2006. Voters were also electing a new 110-seat parliament, which Lukashenko has vowed will not include opposition representatives. Turnout exceeded 90 per cent and approval was above 77 per cent. First official results are due out late on 18 October.

The opposition claimed that the vote was rigged in favour of Lukashenko. "There is large-scale fraud taking place," said opposition National Front Party leader Vintsuk Vyachorka. "It is a farce."

The 50-year-old Lukashenko, often referred to as the "last dictator in Europe", has been in power for twelve years. Should the referendum be declared a success, he would be entitled to stay in power indefinitely.

Both the EU and the US have voiced doubts that the poll was free and fair. The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has said that the referendum had been conducted in a climate of fear.

Lukashenko has dismissed Western criticism. "For ten years you have been concerned about something or other in Belarus. Try to calm down and stop accusing us," he said.