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Russia Arrests Two Alleged Belarus Coup Plotters

Associated Press

   MOSCOW - Russia's main security agency says it has arrested two
   Belarusians who it said were preparing a plot to overthrow Belarus'
   government and kill authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko.

   One of the men arrested, Aleksandr Feduta, is a former Lukahsenko
   spokesman who later joined the opposition. The other, lawyer Yuras
   Zyankovich, has dual Belarusian-U.S. citizenship.

   The Federal Security Service said Saturday that the two had been handed
   over to Belarus. Russian authorities were alerted to information about
   the men's plans by the Belarusian security service, the KGB.

   The Russian agency said the two suspects came to Moscow to meet with
   opposition-minded Belarusian generals, whom they told that "for the
   successful implementation of their plan, it was necessary to physically
   eliminate practically the entire top leadership of the republic."

   Alleged details

   "They detailed the plan for a military coup, in particular, including
   the seizure of radio and television centers to broadcast their appeal
   to the people, blocking the internal troops and riot police units loyal
   to the current government," the Russian agency said.

   Lukashenko told Belarusian television Saturday that investigators found
   evidence of foreign involvement in the alleged plot, "most likely the
   FBI, the CIA."

   When nationwide protests against Lukashenko broke out last year after
   his disputed election win, he repeatedly alleged that Western countries
   were plotting his downfall or even preparing for a military
   intervention.

   The protests, some of which attracted as many as 200,000 people,
   started in August after an election that official results say gave
   Lukashenko a sixth term in office. Opposition members and even some
   poll workers said the results were fraudulent.

   Security forces then cracked down hard on the demonstrations, arresting
   more than 34,000 people, many of whom were beaten. Most prominent
   opposition figures have fled Belarus or have since been jailed.