RNW

Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal has told EU foreign policy Chief Catherine Ashton that the Netherlands wants the union to take action against Belarus soon.

Mr Rosenthal's remarks were prompted by Sunday's flawed presidential elections and the subsequent violence against opposition protesters. The minister said that the arrests of hundreds of the protesters, including several presidential candidates was unacceptable. The whereabouts of many of the detainees are still unknown. Mr Rosenthal feels the EU should consider re-imposing travel restrictions on President Lukashenko and his associates, in addition to the financial sanctions already in place.

©