Belarus bars U.S., Canadian overflights

The decision was taken by President Alexander Lukashenko "strictly in adherence to the principles of symmetry," Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Popov said.

Photo: Belarus bars U.S., Canadian overflights

During a trip to and from Cuba last month, both the United States and Canada refused to allow Prime Minister Sergei Sidorsky's plane permission to refuel - a decision derided on Tuesday by Lukashenko in an address before parliament as "complete savagery."

It was unclear how many flights could be affected - most direct flights from North America to Russia, for example, fly to the north of Belarus - nor was it clear if the ban affected only commercial airlines, or official flights as well.

Phone calls to Popov seeking clarification went unanswered.

According to state aviation officials, the ex-Soviet republic could lose up to US$200,000 (Ђ157,000) a year annually in overflight fees.

Dubbed Europe's last dictator by Washington and the European Union, Lukashenko has been increasingly isolated, particularly since this year's presidential election, which was derided by opposition parties as patently fraudulent, the AP reports.

As a result of the vote, Lukashenko has been slapped with EU and U.S. sanctions and he and up to 30 top government officials face the seizure of financial assets and a travel ban.

Popov said Belarusian authorities would appeal to international courts over the travel ban, saying the ban violates international human rights principles.