Washington, March 21, SPA -- U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Monday that the United States "cannot accept as legitimate" the re-election of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. McCormack cited an Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) team observing the voting process, which found the vote "failed to meet OSCE commitments for democratic elections." The vote was "characterized by a disregard for human rights of freedom of assembly, association and expression, as well as by a climate of intimidation, insecurity and highly problematic vote count," McCormack said. The United States congratulates the "courageous" Belarusian opposition who continue to resist the Lukashenko government and have taken to the streets to protest the election results, McCormack added. Despite the flawed electoral process, McCormack said the United States recognized some progress in bringing democracy to Belarus-nothing that the commitment of opposition leaders and activists "would have been unheard of two years ago if you look back at the history of this regime and the kinds of practices that they have engaged in." In addition to joining the European Union in calling for new, free and fair elections, the Untied States "is preparing to take serious, appropriate measures against those officials responsible for election fraud and other human rights abuses," McCormack said. McCormack's statements came hours after White House spokesman Scott McClellan condemned the Belarusian election results as the product of a "climate of fear."--SPA 13 33 Local Time 10 33 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/347273