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Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko claimed that a new election could be held only after the adoption of a new constitution, speaking during his visit to the MZKT military vehicles factory in Minsk on Monday.

"We should adopt a new constitution as you wanted. Even the opposition didn’t mind that. But you should adopt it at the referendum, as we used to adopt the constitution at the referendum. And then we can hold another election based on the new constitution if you wish. [We could elect] both parliament, president and local authorities," he said.

Lukashenko also stressed that "the president shouldn’t make decisions under pressure."

Belarus has been swept by anti-government protests following the August 9 disputed presidential election that saw Lukashenko re-elected for a sixth term.