Belarus has threatened to reignite a dispute with Russia that the two sides said they had resolved last week.

The European Commission says local elections in Belarus have failed to meet democratic standards.

Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country will continue to support Belarus's economy, but at a "significantly reduced" level.

Belarus and Russia have signed an agreement resolving an oil transit row.

The prime ministers of Russia and Belarus, Mikhail Fradkov and Syarhey Sidorski, are continuing talks today on issues related to the transit of Russian oil through Belarus to Western Europe.

Russia says talks with Belarus on resuming oil shipments to Western Europe cannot get under way until Belarus first cancels a new transit fee on oil coming from Russia.

Belarus says a compromise has been found to resolve the oil-transit dispute with Russia.

A Belarusian delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Andrey Kabyakou is in Moscow to hold negotiations with Russian officials after Russian oil exports to Europe via Belarus were halted on January 8.

Delivery of Russian oil via Belarus to the European Union remains suspended today, with Minsk and Moscow blaming each other for the cutoff. Shipments through the Druzhba pipeline were originally halted early on January 8, disrupting supplies to several countries including EU members Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his government today to discuss a possible reduction in output by Russian oil companies after a dispute between Russia and Belarus halted supplies to several European countries.

Europe could face oil shortage due to Belarus and Russia dispute over oil prices. So called "Drujba" ( Rus. Friendship) oil pipe become subject to trade war.

The leader of the Belarusian opposition, Alyaksandr Milinkevich, accused the country's traffic police of harassing him during a campaign trip.