Latvia Claims Compensation from Belarus for River Pollution

Latvia will demand compensation from Belarus for polluting the Daugava River with oil derivatives and endangering the country's environment, the Latvian prime minister said Friday.

About 100 tons of diesel fuel spilled into the Western Dvina River and reached Latvian territory following an oil pipeline rupture in Belarus.

"The Environment Ministry was directed to assess the environmental damage and estimate the cost of a clean-up operation," Aigars Kalvitis said, adding that the Belarusian government would then be asked to foot the bill.

Latvian emergency services had to work for about a week to contain the oil slick and stop it from reaching the capital Riga.

Latvian authorities believe the Belarusian side understated the scale of the accident, since the oil slick extended over 100 kilometers (60 miles) downstream, not 10 kilometers (six miles) as Belarus reported.