New powers for Belarus KGB

The parliament of Belarus has passed a series of measures tightening restrictions on opposition groups as well as extending police powers.

The measures were passed in a closed session and published yesterday on a government website.

They came as anger grows in the country of ten million over an economic crisis in which the Belarusian rouble has lost one-third of its value since spring.

The security police, who use the Soviet-era acronym KGB, are now authorised to break into residences and offices.