The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has called on member states to impose sanctions on Belarus because of the country's crackdown on the opposition and its supporters.
The measure called for all non-European Union member states to join the bloc in imposing sanctions. The assembly condemned what it called a wave of intimidation, violence and persecution that it said hit Belarusian democratic forces before and after last month's elections. It also backed the opposition's call for a new vote.
On Monday, the European Union imposed a visa ban on Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and 30 other officials to protest what they considered fraud in the March presidential elections.
The Council of Europe brings together lawmakers from all democratic European countries to review various issues including implementation of human rights.
Some information for this report was provided by AP.