Voters Scrap Term Limits for President
Belarussians voted overwhelmingly to scrap presidential term limits, the Central Elections Commission said, allowing the authoritarian leader of the ex-Soviet republic to seek a new term in 2006.
Opposition figures claimed that the vote was rigged to allow Alexander G. Lukashenko, often called Europe’s last dictator, to stay in power. He has led the nation of 10 million since 1994.
The elections panel said a preliminary tally of all ballots showed more than 77% of voters approved dropping the term limits. Turnout was nearly 90%.
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