New head of government in Belarus

MINSK - Belarus’ authoritarian president Aleksander Lukashenko Tuesday appointed a long-time subordinate as his new head of government, the Belapan news agency reported.

Mikhail Myasnikovych, 60, until Tuesday had headed Belarus’ National Academy of Sciences.

He had previously served as Lukashenko’s head of the Presidential Administration.

Lukashenko Dec 19 won a re-election to a fourth term in office in a vote criticised as fraudulent by international observers.

More than 20,000 demonstrators turned out in central Minsk to protest against the allegedly fixed result.

Police arrested more than 600 while breaking up the street protests.