Lukashenko youth group The Belorusian Patriotic Union (BPU) were also present at voting sites in Minsk. The teenagers frequently used force to halt voters leaving the poll to ask the question "did you vote for Lukashenko or make a mistake?" witnesses reported. Persons saying they supported Lukashenko received no further attention, while persons saying they opposed Lukashenko were attacked verbally by the BPU activists. Police did not interfere with the Lukashenko supporters, who claimed they were conducting an "exit poll" as well. Eremoshina said she had received no complaints of voting irregularities. Allegations by opposition candidates of state intimidation tactics she described as "all kinds of silliness". Polling ended at 8 p.m. local time with no major incidents reported. Lukashenko in a morning meeting with reporters said he considered the referendum a test of his leadership of Belarus for the last decade, and on whether Belarusians wished to continue the Soviet- style social policies he supports. --more 2300 Local Time 2000 GMT
