Fears for freedom

Belarus opposition leader Semyon Sharetsky, who fled to Lithuania last week, said on Tuesday he would remain in exile until he was assured he would not be arrested. ``I plan to stay here until the situation improves.' Sharetsky told the Lithuanian ELTA news agency. Sharetsky, who is speaker of the parliament Lukashenko disbanded after a controversial 1996 referendum, said he fled to neighbouring Lithuania after hearing rumours that there was a warrant out for his arrest in Belarus.