EU: The EU has agreed to impose visa restrictions on Belorussian president Alexander Lukashenko and members of his government for fixing the recent election.
It also called yesterday for the immediate release of opposition protesters detained during peaceful demonstrations against the presidential election earlier this week.
"The European Council has decided to take restrictive measures against those responsible for the violations of international standards, including President Lukashenko," EU leaders said in a statement after their summit in Brussels.
Polish foreign minister Stefan Meller said the ban on travel to the EU would probably begin on April 10th and involve officials accused of rigging the election. These individuals may also have any financial assets held abroad frozen, he said.
"The list still needs to be prepared, but we are not talking about several people, not about a dozen or so people, but about many, many officials Lukashenko will be banned from travelling to the EU," said Mr Meller, who has led calls for tough action against Belarus.
Austrian foreign minister Ursula Plassnik, whose country holds the EU's presidency, said economic sanctions were not being considered. However, Mr Meller insisted economic restrictions on Belarus firms linked to Mr Lukashenko's regime could be applied.
EU leaders vowed to support the democratic opposition in Belarus and demanded the release of all detained protesters. "Their brave efforts to advance the cause of democracy in exceptionally difficult circumstances deserve our full recognition and support," they said.
EU foreign ministers, who also attended the summit meeting, held a debate on the EU constitution and enlargement of the union. EU states remain divided on the future of the constitution, which set out a new institutional basis for the union but failed to pass referendums in France and the Netherlands last year.
Several states, such as Slovakia and Finland, are continuing their efforts to ratify the constitution. However, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said Ireland would now probably not hold a referendum on the constitution until after the French election next year. Mr Ahern said he thought there would be an EU constitution in the future, although it may not be called a constitution. He also warned against attempts by the "cherry-picking brigade" to take bits out of the current text to create a new treaty. France and the Netherlands oppose putting the current constitution to another vote.
Meanwhile, EU leaders sanctioned a military mission to safeguard upcoming elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The mission will base 450 troops there and a force of about 1,000 on standby outside the country.