Belarus allows rare pro-EU rally

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

Thousands of opposition supporters in Belarus have taken part in a rare demonstration for ties with the EU.

President Alexander Lukashenko - who sought to ban similar rallies in the past - allowed the protest to go ahead in the capital, Minsk.

The president has been barred from travelling to the US and the EU, which accuses him of rigging elections.

But he has recently sought to build links with the EU, following fuel price rises by Russia, Belarus' main ally.

Activists detained

Demonstrators from a loose coalition of opposition parties carried EU flags proclaiming "Belarus in Europe" and demanding the closure of Russian military bases in the country.

Opposition leader Alexander Milinkevich told the crowd: "Europe means free elections for free citizens."

President Lukashenko has been branded the "last dictator in Europe" by the US State Department.

He has been refused entry to the EU since his victory in presidential elections in March 2006 - an election described as unfair by Western observers.

But in the past year the Belarus government has clashed with Russia, its traditional ally, over oil supplies.

In August, Moscow cut gas exports to Belarus by almost a half, citing unpaid debt.

The decision to allow Sunday's demonstration was welcomed by both Washington and Brussels.

Nonetheless, an opposition group said 50 of its activists were detained ahead of the rally.