The European Parliament awarded Tuesday Belarussian opposition leader Alexander Milinkevich the 2006 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

The announcement was accompanied by an appeal for tougher sanctions against the country's regime.

An existing EU visa ban on Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko and other top officials were "very effective measures", Milinkevich said during the award ceremony, urging the EU to "extend the list".

However, he voiced opposition to economic sanctions, telling journalists after the ceremony that "we don't want sanctions against normal ordinary people".

Milinkevich was the only opposition candidate to run in Belarus' presidential elections in March against the country's authoritarian leader Lukashenko, who was declared re-elected. Milinkevich was thrown in jail for 15 days for taking part in a subsequent unauthorised protest rally.

Milinkevich gave the EUR 50 000 that comes with the prize to the human rights NGO - the Norwegian Helsinki Committee.

Each year, the Parliament awards the Sakharov prize to exceptional people or organisations fighting against oppression, intolerance and injustice. The aim is to help them in their efforts to protect human rights, democracy and the rule of law around the world.

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