(BERLIN) - Germany on Friday condemned a crackdown on media and demonstrators in Belarus, saying the government in Minsk must "finally put the European ideals of democracy and human rights into action".

Deputy government spokesman Thomas Steg said Berlin was appalled by the raids mounted by Belarussian security services Thursday against journalists working for media funded by the European Union and the United States.

"Opposition forces, non-governmental organisations and independent media continue to be massively obstructed by the regime of President (Alexander) Lukashenko," Steg told a regular government news conference.

"The German government calls on the Belarussian authorities to finally put the European ideals of democracy and human rights into action in the country."

He said Berlin would closely monitor the parliamentary elections in September.

"Then we will determine, along with our partners in the European Union and the United States, how we will should deal with the regime of President Lukashenko," Steg said.

"A condition for a new, positive dynamic in relations with Belarus is respect for democracy and human rights as well as improved and reasonable working conditions for journalists and independent media."

Western powers have long criticized Lukashenko's regime for imprisoning opposition leaders, preventing criticism in the state-controlled media and imposing severe restrictions on rallies.

The United States, which has dubbed Belarus "Europe's last dictatorship," recently imposed economic sanctions in protest against the country's human rights record.

Text and Picture Copyright 2008 AFP. All other Copyright 2008 EUbusiness Ltd. All rights reserved. This material is intended solely for personal use. Any other reproduction, publication or redistribution of this material without the written agreement of the copyright owner is strictly forbidden and any breach of copyright will be considered actionable.