Nikolai Khalezin in hiding after the KGB issue arrest warrant for the co-founder of the Belarus Free Theatre. Mike Harris reports
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Three activists from opposition Malady Front were detained in front of the presidential office. Uladzimer Yaromenak, Eduard Lobau and Hanna Sharuba were holding placards demanding President Alyaksandr Lukashenka to step down. Earlier last week supporters of opposition candidates were attacked in the western region of Hrodna while distributing leaflets. Belarus’ presidential election is taking place on 19 December 2010.
Security forces in Alexandria have arrested over 50 people hanging posters in support of the Muslim Brotherhood. The Brotherhood is banned from putting up electoral candidates but circumvents the restrictions by fielding candidates as independents. The move is even more contentious given that Alexandria is a Brotherhood stronghold. Since 9 October, when they announced they would stand in November’s parliamentary elections, about 250 Brotherhood members have been detained. An official has said the posters breached a law forbidding the use of religious slogans for election purposes. This follows Tuesday’s threat by the largest liberal opposition party to boycott the election after state television refused to air its political adverts.
Traditional Ulster Voice leader Jim Allister has failed in his attempt to have leaflets printed by election rival Ian Paisley Junior banned.
Mr Allister, a QC hoping to win his young party’s first Westminster seat, maintains that the leaflets contain libellous material.
Mt Justice Gullen noted:
“It is open to argument that the words complained of do not amount to an untrue statement of fact but are part and parcel of the political opinions that seem to have been the hallmark of the campaign to date between these two candidates.
“In coming to this conclusion I am conscious of the need to ensure the free expression of opinion by those who put themselves into the democratic process for election by the population at large.
“I pause to observe again that I am far from ruling that these words may not be capable of defamatory meaning or that a jury may not come to a conclusion favourable to the plaintiff.
“I am not satisfied, however, that it is appropriate that an interlocutory injunction should be granted at this time and accordingly I refuse the plaintiff’s application.”
Mr Allister says he will press ahead with a defamation suit. So it seems, at least in North Antrim, libel is very definitely an election issue.