Desperate times for Belarus

In a move unlikely to inspire confidence in Belarus, the country's central bank has announced it is selling off household items and office supplies to try to raise US$16,000.

Coffee cups, sugar bowls and television sets are among the items being offloaded.

The bank insisted the country's dire economic state had nothing to do with the sale.

Among the items no longer required are 10 safes, ranging in value from 8.8 million roubles ($1936) up to 11.2 million roubles.

Other items include a sugar bowl for 4270 roubles and and a second-hand Horisont television at 417,958 roubles.