January 30, 2006,
FOUR CANDIDATES SUBMIT MORE THAN 100,000 SIGNATURES TO APPLY FOR PRESIDENTIAL RACE IN BELARUS

Belarus's Central Election Commission said on 28 January that four aspirants seeking to register for the 19 March presidential vote submitted more than the required minimum of 100,000 voter signatures, Belapan reported. Thus, incumbent President Alyaksandr Lukashenka reportedly gathered 1.9 million signatures, united opposition forces' contender Alyaksandr Milinkevich some 198,000, Alyaksandr Kazulin some 156,000, and Syarhey Haydukevich some 150,000. The election authorities are now checking the authenticity of collected signatures. The Central Election Commission should make registration decisions no later than 21 February.

31 january 2006
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Source: RFE/RL Newsline