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Hundreds Protest Opposition Candidates' Lockout in Belarus

VOA News

   Hundreds marched in Minsk Tuesday after Belarus'
   electionofficialsrefused to registertwo topoppositioncandidates for the
   August 9presidentialelection.

   "We are categorically for honest and fair elections,"saidone protester.

   It is unclear how many people were arrested Tuesday.

   The election commission allowed fivecandidatesto put their names on
   theballot butdeniedspotstooppositioncandidatesValeryTsepkaloand
   ViktorBabariko. Bothareseen astheonlyseriouscompetitorsto
   longtimeincumbentPresidentAlexander Lukashenko.

   Tsepkalois a formerBelarusianambassador to
   theUnitedStates.Electionofficialsclaimmost of thenameson the petition
   to place him on the ballot are invalid.

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