Putin, 'unacceptable interference in Belarus'

(ANSA) - MOSCOW, 18 AUG - Russian President Vladimir Putinsi is firmly opposed, considering it "unacceptable", to any attempt to interfere in the situation in Belarus. The statement follows two separate phone calls with the German chancellor Angela Merkel and with the French president Emmanuel Macron, who had hoped for an end to the violence against the demonstrators and the start of a dialogue between the parties. In the meantime, the first meeting of the Coordination Council of the Belarusian opposition has been called for today, which should formalize the requests to the authorities. Its leaders said in the morning that they do not trust the "promises" of President Alexander Lukashenko who yesterday called for new elections but only after a reform of the Constitution. (HANDLE).