The Belarussian opposition 'Coordination Council' has held its first meeting on how to negotiate a peaceful transfer of power with President Alexander Lukashenko. But the president accuses them of trying to "seize power", according to a statement to the state news agency Belta.

"They demand nothing more or less than the transfer of power to them," Lukashenko said in a statement.

The president has spent the day handing out medals to members of the security forces for "impeccable service." A service that meant that at least two demonstrators were killed and thousands were detained during the demonstrations that followed the news that Lukashenko's election victory, which the opposition condemns as election fraud.

Police resign

On Tuesday, the Ministry of the Interior also confirmed that a "small part" of the country's police force had resigned in protest against how the demonstrators were treated. At the same time, the Belarusian Ministry of Defense is wiring out images that allegedly show how the country's military has been put on full combat readiness along the border with the EU country Lithuania, where opposition leader Svetlana Tichanovskaya has taken refuge. A measure that, according to assessors, should be seen more as a signal than a threat.

Supporters of Tikhanovskaya gathered during the day outside a detention center in Minsk, where her husband Sergei Tikhanovsky is being held. Belarussian authorities accuse him of inciting unrest and violence against security forces.

Calls for dialogue

EU Permanent Council President Charles Michel spoke on Tuesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the situation in Belarus, he wrote on Twitter. An EU representative says that Michel raised various concerns related to the election, as well as the police's violence against protesters.

Michel and Putin also discussed how dialogue can be promoted for a peaceful end to the crisis, according to the official.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel also spoke with Putin during the day. Merkel emphasized in the telephone conversation that the Belarusian government must avoid violence and start a national dialogue.

On Wednesday, the EU plans to hold a crisis meeting on the situation in Belarus.