BELARUS PROTESTS BERLIN, MARCH 26, SPA -- GERMANY'S FOREIGN MINISTER CRITICIZED THE USE OF FORCE AGAINST CROWDS PROTESTING THE RE-ELECTION OF BELARUS PRESIDENT ALEXANDER LUKASHENKO AND CONDEMNED THE DETENTION OF AN OPPOSITION LEADER, AP REPORTED. FRANK-WALTER STEINMEIER CALLED FOR THE RELEASE OF ALEXANDER KOZULIN AND OTHER ACTIVISTS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY ON SATURDAY. 'THE BASIC RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF OPINION AND ASSEMBLY MUST ALSO BE VALID IN BELARUS,' HE SAID ON SATURDAY EVENING IN BERLIN. 'I CONDEMN THE UNJUSTIFIED USE OF VIOLENCE BY THE SECURITY FORCES IN MINSK AND THE ARREST OF THE OPPOSITION LEADER KOZULIN,' HE SAID. KOZULIN AND OTHER ACTIVISTS WERE ARRESTED ON SATURDAY WHEN THOUSANDS OF DEMONSTRATORS CLASHED WITH RIOT POLICE AS THEY TRIED TO MARCH TO A JAIL, THE LATEST INCIDENT IN WEEKLONG PROTESTS SET OFF BY LUKASHENKO'S DISPUTED ELECTION WIN. THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE U.S. HAVE CONDEMNED THE ELECTION AS UNFAIR AND ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WILL IMPOSE SANCTIONS ON LUKASHENKO. --SPA 11 10 LOCAL TIME 08 10 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/348499