PRO-INDEPENDENCE DEMONSTRATION IN MINSK.

Several thousand Minsk residents demonstrated yesterday for Belarusan independence. "No to Russian annexation" and "Russia means war, terrorism, and poverty" were the main slogans. Leaders of the forcibly dissolved parliament and of the Popular Front and other parties headed the procession. On the previous day, the legitimate parliament’s chairman, Syamyon Sharetsky, was sentenced to pay an exorbitant fine and two presidium members were hauled to court for a similar proceeding. (Belapan, Interfax, NTV, May 12-13. See Perspective section below)

Russia, NATO Reach Political Agreement.