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Swedes See Belarus Sanctions

STOCKHOLM — Sweden said Wednesday that it expected the European Union to unite behind new sanctions against Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko after a crackdown on protests.

Western governments have urged Lukashenko to free scores of activists including four challengers for the presidency rounded up during mass protests after a December election that the opposition denounced as fraudulent.

“There will be fairly significant sanctions in place,” Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt told reporters after meeting Belarussian opposition activists.

He said nations in the EU that had been skeptical over sanctions earlier were coming around to supporting them, though talks were still taking place on the list of people in Belarus who would be affected by any restrictions.

(Reuters)


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