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Explosion in Belarus, close to leader, injures 40
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-07-04 16:09
People injured by an explosion rest front of an ambulance in Minsk early July 4, 2008. [Agencies] 

The West has strongly criticised Lukashenko's rule, accusing him of trampling on free speech and jailing opponents. The European Union and the United States have banned him from entry, saying he rigged his landslide re-election in 2006.

Lukashenko argues he has helped save Belarus from the political and economic chaos of other ex-Soviet states and remains broadly popular in the country of 10 million. There have been no known assassination attempts against him.

In 2005, a home-made explosive device injured over 40 people in the northern city of Vitebsk.

A little known, anti-Lukashenko group calling itself the "Belarussian National Liberation Army" later claimed responsibility but no one was convicted for the attack.