Belarusian leader says he asked Putin for armaments at meeting

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said on Wednesday he had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to supply Belarus with several types of weapon, the Belta state news agency reported.

Lukashenko, who faces mass protests at home following a presidential election that demonstrators say was rigged, also said that new presidential elections would be held once the country adopts a new constitution.

His comments follow a meeting between Putin and Lukashenko in the Black Sea resort of Sochi earlier this week.