You're reading: Belarus leader wants paramilitary training for all

Belarussians should train as paramilitary fighters and be prepared to resist any foreign aggression, the country's authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Friday.

The increasingly isolated Lukashenko, who along with Belarussian officials is subject to U.S. and EU travel bans, repeatedly has accused the West of staging plots to overthrow him and routinely describes his opponents as foreign agents.

Earlier this month, Lukashenko, who after he was re-elected for a fourth term last December cracked down on public protests, ordered the creation of a 120,000-strong "territorial army" made up of discharged conscripts and reserve officers.

Speaking to military officials on Friday, he reminded them of World War Two, when Belarus was occupied by Nazi Germany and resistance mostly came from paramilitary units of partisans.

"The partisan movement in Belarus is an essential part of national resistance," he said. "And we must prepare the people for that, in case something happens."

Lukashenko also said he viewed the regular army as one of the key guarantors of stability in the nation of 9.5 million.

Public protests, usually rare in Belarus, became more frequent this year as it plunged into financial crisis triggered by excessive pre-election government spending.

Consumer prices are set to double this year after two currency devaluations.