RIGA, Nov 28: US President George Bush on Thursday slammed the government of Alexander Lukashenko in Belarus and pledged to help the people there in their struggle to join the family of free Europe.

“As the new democracies of Europe join the institutions of Europe, we must not forget those who still languish in tyranny,” Mr Bush said in a speech delivered on his arrival in the Latvian capital for the NATO summit.

“Just across the border here lies Belarus, a place where peaceful protesters are beaten and opposition leaders are disappeared by agents of a cruel regime,” he said.

“The existence of such oppression in our midst offends the conscience of Europe and the conscience of America.” Opposition leader Alexander Kozulin, who ran unsuccessfully against Lukashenko for the presidency of Belarus earlier this year, was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison for leading a post-election protest that was eventually put down in bloodshed.

“We have a message for the people of Belarus: the vision of a Europe whole, free and at peace includes you and we will stand with you in your struggle for freedom,” Bush said.—AFP