Lukashenko opponent freed

One of seven presidential candidates arrested for taking part in protests after December's election has been pardoned by President Alexander Lukashenko.

Dmitry Uss, 41, was convicted of organising disturbances and sentenced to five years in prison. He has now been freed.

The lawyer was jailed after a crackdown on rallies against the vote, which Mr Lukashenko won with a landslide. More than 700 people were arrested in all .

Two other candidates remain in prison, serving sentences of five to six years. Two others were given suspended sentences and freed nearly five months after their arrest, while another has fled the country and been given asylum in the Czech Republic. The seventh was released several days after his arrest.

AP