In a statement, Steinmeier said that "the basic right to freedom of opinion and assembly" must also apply in Belarus. He also said he planned to invite Belarusian opposition leader Alyaksandr Milinkevich to attend the next meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg next month.
The EU is considering new sanctions against Belarus in view of the March 19 election, which it termed undemocratic.
Steinmeier also called for the immediate release of opposition leader Alyaksandr Kazulin, who was among the protesters detained on March 25.
(RFE/RL's Russian and Belarus services, with Reuters, AP)
Minsk, March 25
THE AUTHORITIES GET TOUGH: RFE/RL's Belarus Service filed these images from the police action against the March 25 demonstration in Minsk. Photographs by Maks Kapran.
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