Belarus Election Labeled 'A Farce'

(CBS/AP)  Independent observers said Monday the re-election of iron-fisted President Alexander Lukashenko was "a farce" because his opponents were systematically intimidated and detained.

The United States called for new elections in Belarus, reports CBS News White House correspondent Peter Maer. Spokesman Scott McClellan said the U.S. does not accept the election results, and added, "the U.S. will continue to stand with the people of Belarus."

The White House and European Union also hinted at sanctions against Lukashenko's authoritarian government.

However, Russia hailed the election held by its ally and said the result that gave Lukashenko a third term "must be viewed with respect."

Official results showed Lukashenko with 82.6 percent of the vote, Central Election Commission chief Lidiya Yermoshina said. Main opposition candidate Alexander Milinkevich, a former physics professor, received 6 percent, she said, citing a complete preliminary ballot count.

Underlying the election is a struggle for regional influence between Russia and the West, which is seen by Lukashenko's government and its backers in Moscow as a major culprit in the political upheaval in former Soviet republics of Ukraine, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan.

About 10,000 people demonstrators turned out at a peaceful anti-government protest Sunday night in Minsk's Oktyabrskaya Square, signaling a bid to gather growing street rallies like those that brought opposition leaders to power in neighboring Ukraine.

Milinkevich and the other opposition candidate, Alexander Kozulin, called for larger crowds to turn out Monday evening. Busloads of riot police in helmets and camoufalge uniforms streamed into the capital, went into neighborhood courtyards, and prevented pedestrians from walking toward the central square.

At a boastful and belligerent nationally televised news conference where he repeatedly criticized the United States, Lukashenko repeated allegations that the opposition was backed by Western forces plotting to bring him down.

"The revolution that was talked about so much ... has failed," he said, adding that Belarusians had resisted "colossal pressure from outside" and "showed who's the boss."

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