Belarus President blames West for Eurovision defeat

Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko has accused Western powers of rejecting the country's entry to the Eurovision Song Contest - titled "I love Belarus" -- for political reasons.

Belarus's entry to the contest was voted out by viewers of the second semi-final on Thursday, in which 19 contestants competed for 10 places in today's final in Duesseldorf, Germany.

Lukashenko accused unnamed forces of "suffocating" the country's entry, apparently linking its failure to Europe's cold-shouldering of Belarus after his government's harsh crackdown on the opposition following disputed presidential polls.

"They will suffocate Belarus in all directions, they will suffocate us at Eurovision as they did yesterday with this young girl," Lukashenko told workers on a factory visit, his press service said.

He praised the singer, Anastasiya Vinnikova, for performing what he called an anthem to the country, once named as Europe's last dictatorship by the United States.

"It all came together: her behaviour, her face and the song. She sang an anthem to Belarus. Who could overlook an anthem to Belarus?" he asked in apparent disbelief.

The up-tempo song, set to a disco beat, refers to the country's lakes and cornfields and includes the lyrics: "I love Belarus/Got it deep inside./I love Belarus/Feel it in my mind."

The European Union slapped travel bans on Belarussian officials after Lukashenko won a fourth term in office in December polls that were questioned by Western observers.

The disputed polls prompted thousands to rally in central Minsk and security services to arrest more than 100 activists, some of whom have been jailed for up to four years.

Five of Lukashenko's opponents in the presidential election are now facing possible jail time after being accused of organising mass riots.