POMPEO TALKS WITH LUKASHENKO AS MORE RALLIES ARE SET IN BELARUS

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has spoken to embattled Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko as the ex-Soviet republic gears up for another Sunday of mass anti-government protests, Ulf reported for Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa).

During the 90 minute call, which took place on Saturday, Pompeo "reaffirmed US support for the democratic aspirations of the people of Belarus," a US State Department spokesperson told dpa, without giving further details. 

Pompeo also demanded that US citizen Vitaly Shklyarov, who is being held in Belarus, should be allowed to leave the country, the spokesperson said. 

Lukashenko informed Pompeo about a national dialogue aimed at resolving the crisis, state media in Minsk reported. The call comes as of thousands of Belarusians are expected to turn out at rallies against Lukashenko later on Sunday as a deadline set by the opposition for him to step down expires. The Interior Ministry issued an advance warning that people should not attend demonstrations for which no permit has been issued.