EU to bolster sanctions after Belarus polls

One EU commissioner condemned the former Soviet republic as "the last dictatorship in Europe" after long-time head of state Alexander Lukashenko secured more than 80 percent of the votes in Sunday's election.

While EU ministers held back on more substantial comment until election monitors gave their assessment in Minsk, EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner made it clear that more sanctions were almost certain.

"From what we have seen so far, my view is some action is now very likely," she told reporters, noting that EU leaders have repeatedly warned they are ready to tighten sanctions if they were not satisfied with the ballot.