Belarus condemned over eviction

Washington calls the Belarus leader "Europe's last dictator"

The US has condemned a decision by Belarus to evict a human rights group, the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, from its offices in the capital, Minsk.

A state department spokesman said it showed the steady deterioration of human rights in Belarus.

He added that it deprived the country of its most significant human rights group, and urged the government to reverse the eviction order immediately. The US has frequently attacked the human rights record of Belarus.

It has called President Alexander Lukashenko Europe's last dictator.

Last week in his State of the Union address, President Bush reaffirmed US commitment to seek democratic change in Belarus.

The Belarus Helsinki Committee has long alleged abuse by the authorities, citing an ongoing court case for alleged tax evasion.

It says that because it no longer has a legal address, it will be subject to liquidation under Belarus law.

A lawyer for the group said it had sent a letter to president's office, which he says owns most of Minsk's office buildings, but had yet to receive a reply.