LSA Anaconda, Balad, Iraq

Soldiers Deliver Supplies, Smiles to Local Children

> MNFI

LSA Anaconda, Balad, Iraq -- More than 120 students in the nearby village of Albu Hassan were treated to gifts delivered by Soldiers from the 1st Corps Support Command, 301st Signal Company and 353rd Civil Affairs Command on Dec. 28.

Soldiers distributed school supplies, T-shirts, footballs, beach balls and Frisbees to the students at the al-Salam school, who reacted to the supplies with grins and shouts of joy.

The school, which was opened in June, was built as part of Operation Anaconda Neighborhood, a collaborative effort of the units stationed here to improve the quality of life in the surrounding areas. Since its inception in January, OAN has spent more than $4.2 million to improve schools, medical clinics, roads and water filtration projects in the villages near here.

Release #0412029i SOURCE: MNFI

Boucher Belarus Mikhail Marinich

Press Statement Richard Boucher, Spokesman Washington, DC December 30, 2004

Belarus: Conviction of Mikhail Marinich

On December 30, a Belarusian court convicted prominent Belarusian political figure Mikhail Marinich on a spurious charge of theft of equipment provided to his non-governmental organization. The court sentenced him to prison for five years. As we have noted before, the equipment in question is the property of the U.S. Government, and we make no claim against Ambassador Marinich in connection with its disposition. The United States condemns this abuse and earlier abuses of the judicial system by the Lukashenko regime to persecute Belarusian citizens for their political beliefs. The United States will consider measures it may take to hold accountable those Belarusian officials who participate in such abuses of democratic procedures and human rights.

2004/1415 [End] SOURCE: state.gov