20:14 The Surge Worked

It was exactly one year ago tonight, in a televised address to the nation, that President George W. Bush announced his fateful decision to change course in Iraq, and to send five additional U.S. combat brigades there as part of a new counterinsurgency strategy and under the command of a new general, David Petraeus.

15:58 Will Yulia Tymoshenko succeed to do what Alyaksandr Lukashenka failed to do?

On January 11 Ukrainians started to get compensation of depreciated deposits placed before January 2, 1992 at the former Soviet savings bank. Compensation for Soviet-time savings was one of pre-election promises of Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

14:22 Justice Ministry demands explanation from UCP

The Justice Ministry of Belarus has demanded explanation from the United Civil Party concerning their leader Anatol Lyabedzka’s participation in the unsanctioned protest rally of small businessman on January 10.

13:35 Entrepreneur arrested after his meeting with administration of internal affairs department

Alyaksandr Makayeu, leader of entrepreneurs’ movement has been detained today in the Minsk center. As Makayeu said to the Charter’97 press center, he was detained just after he left the building of the Minsk city executive committee, where he had a meeting with Alyaksandr Naidzenka, deputy head of the city internal affairs department. The theme of the meeting was conditions, in which prisoners having been detained on 10 January, were kept on Akrestin Street.

13:18 Solidarity of entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs from Brest expressed their solidarity with the demands, made at the protest demonstration in Minsk, and decided on continuing the strike until all people, sentenced on 10 January, are released.

13:16 Protesters Beaten up in Paddy Wagons by Riot Policemen

All arrested participants of the protest rally against the economic policy of the government towards small business in Belarus held on January 10 in Minsk are placed to Akrestsin Street prison.

12:47 Ministry of Justice began winding up of communist party

Preliminary hearing of the suit of winding up the Party of Communist Belarusian (PCB) is to be held on 30 January in the Supreme Court of Belarus, Interfax learnt from the court. “Preliminary hearing of the case of PCB’s winding up is to be held on 30 January,” the source said to the agency.

11:55 Join lukamol to enter university?

The Ministry of Education offered to issue a new regulation in the rules of entering universities that are to be adopted soon. According to the regulation, applicants for entry should have recommendations to train for some professions.

11:39 Authorities trying to intimidate entrepreneurs by arrests

The participants of the entrepreneurs’ rally, held in Minsk on 10 January, have trials today. Individual entrepreneurs were protesting against Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s decree, which deprives many of them of work since 1 January.

11:26 Lukashenka dismissed chairman of Constitutional Court

Alyaksandr Lukashenka signed a decree relieving Rygor Vasilevich of the post of chairman of the Constitutional Court, Interfax learnt form the press service of head of state.

10:56 Political prisoner Finkevich transferred to convicted inmates ward

Friends of Artur Finkevich have learnt from his letters that the political prisoner has been transferred to another ward, a ward for convicted inmates. The young activist, who has served a term of corrective labour, was sentenced again to a year and a half of imprisonment in December.

9:47 Syargei Sidorski: We screw up balance of foreign trade

Concrete officials will be responsible for achieving the rate of balance of foreign trade this year. Syargei Sidorski said it on the session of the Council of Ministers on 11 January.

9:24 Decision to railroad leader of entrepreneurs

The court of Barysau region, which earlier acquitted Viktar Harbachou, the leader of the campaign “For free development of entrepreneurship”, has reopened the case on petty hooliganism charges. thus the court cancelled its decision, Belapan was informed by V. Harbachou.

9:10 EU condemns arrests of demonstrants

The Council of the European Union condemns crackdown of the entrepreneurs’ demonstration, arrests and using force towards the protesters. Christina Gallah, spokeswoman of the EU High Commissioner for Foreign Policy and Security, said it. “We condemn arrests and sentences to the people detained. We do not regard every of them other as politically motivated one,” the spokeswoman said.