<p>Germany said Monday it was prepared to back an expansion of European Union sanctions against leading figures in Belarus over its bloody crackdown on demonstrators.</p>.<p>After EU ministers agreed Friday to draw up a list of targets in Belarus for a new round of sanctions, German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said even stronger measures should be considered.</p>.<p>"Of course we are looking at the option of expanding the sanctions to other leading figures," he told reporters.</p>.<p>Germany holds the rotating presidency of the EU.</p>.<p>Seibert called the mass demonstrations against this month's disputed presidential election "impressive" and "moving" and urged an immediate end to violent reprisals and the release of "political prisoners".</p>.<p>"These people should know that Europe stands by them," he said.</p>.<p>Seibert urged a "national dialogue" between the government and opposition "to surmount the crisis", adding that the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) could play a role with a "review of the election".</p>.<p>The OSCE has sent observers to Belarus since 2001 but has said it was not invited to monitor the latest presidential election.</p>
<p>Germany said Monday it was prepared to back an expansion of European Union sanctions against leading figures in Belarus over its bloody crackdown on demonstrators.</p>.<p>After EU ministers agreed Friday to draw up a list of targets in Belarus for a new round of sanctions, German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said even stronger measures should be considered.</p>.<p>"Of course we are looking at the option of expanding the sanctions to other leading figures," he told reporters.</p>.<p>Germany holds the rotating presidency of the EU.</p>.<p>Seibert called the mass demonstrations against this month's disputed presidential election "impressive" and "moving" and urged an immediate end to violent reprisals and the release of "political prisoners".</p>.<p>"These people should know that Europe stands by them," he said.</p>.<p>Seibert urged a "national dialogue" between the government and opposition "to surmount the crisis", adding that the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) could play a role with a "review of the election".</p>.<p>The OSCE has sent observers to Belarus since 2001 but has said it was not invited to monitor the latest presidential election.</p>