Brussels - The EU demanded the immediate release yesterday of an opposition leader and pro-democracy demonstrators arrested in Belarus, saying it was "appalled" by the violence used by police.

The Austrian presidency of the EU expressed its "serious concern" about the detention of opposition supporters, including Alexander Kozulin, who has been held since Saturday. He was arrested when protesters marched to a jail holding those detained during the demonstrations after disputed presidential elections.

EU heads of government promised on Friday to slap a visa ban on Alexander Lukashenko, who was re-elected president by a landslide. The opposition says the vote was rigged and international observers highlighted harassment of opposition candidates and distorted coverage by state-dominated mass media.

Mr Kozulin's wife said that her husband's health was satisfactory, contradicting reports that he had been beaten by police.