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Activists say stray cats starve to death in sealed basements in Belarus
• MINSK, Belarus (AP) -- City authorities in the Belarusian capital of Minsk are carelessly trapping stray cats in locked basements, dooming them to starvation, animal activists say.
• Elena Titova, leader of the animal rights group Protect Life, says the ex-Soviet nation has no long-term shelters to house stray animals. She estimated that about 9,000 strays have been killed in the Belarusian capital alone over the past three years.
• "Killing the animals with impunity has become a government policy," Titova said Monday. "This barbarian policy can be described as 'No animal, no problem.' They find it easier to kill them as they don't have to build shelters."
• City authorities say they must isolate the basements of apartment buildings in line with Soviet-era health rules to prevent rodents from getting in.
• "Cats and residents will scream for a while and then they will calm down," said Alexander Yubkov, a city worker who has welded iron covers on basement windows.
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Today in History
The Associated Press
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• Today is Tuesday, Feb. 5, the 36th day of 2013. There are 329 days left in the year.
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• Today's Highlight in History:
• On Feb. 5, 1973, services were held at Arlington National Cemetery for U.S. Army Col. William B. Nolde, the last official American combat casualty before the Vietnam cease-fire took effect.
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• On this date:
• In 1783, Sweden recognized the independence of the United States.
• In 1811, George, the Prince of Wales, was named Prince Regent due to the mental illness of his father, Britain's King George III.
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