MEPs call for sanctions against Belarus

The main political groupings in the European Parliament have put together a joint draft resolution condemning the crackdown following Belarus's presidential election last month, Radio Free Europe reported.

The draft is a compromise text agreed in Strasbourg by the groups - of liberals, socialists, and center-right and conservative MEPs - that earlier drew up separate but similar drafts.

The joint text is likely to pass when put to a vote in the parliament on January 20.

The draft condemns the crackdown on opposition candidates and protesters when police used force to break up demonstrations following the December 19 vote that returned President Alyaksandr Lukashenka to power.

It also calls for a free and fair repeat of the election, which was criticized as flawed by international observers and Western governments.

The text also calls for a resumption of a visa ban on top Belarusian officials, as well as expanding it to people directly involved in the latest repressions. The left-wing Confederal Group of the European United Left (GUE) had first expressed hesitation about re-imposing the visa ban but later added its backing to the resolution.