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Opposition say over 250 arrested, "junta in its death throes"

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  • Opposition say over 250 arrested, "junta in its death throes"

    Armenian opposition say over 250 arrested, "junta in its death throes"

    Mediamax news agency
    12 Apr 04

    YEREVAN

    MP Viktor Dallakyan, member of the opposition Justice bloc, said in
    Yerevan today that "the Armenian authorities are deliberately
    heightening tension in the country. It will be them who will bear the
    responsibility for a possible negative outcome."

    Speaking at a briefing at the headquarters of the People's Party
    today, Dallakyan said that some 250 people had been "unlawfully
    detained" over a sit-in and protests on Freedom Square.

    Dallakyan said that Tatul Manaseryan and Vardan Lazarian, MPs of the
    Armenia's National Assembly from the Justice faction, were taken to
    police station today. The two intend to get in touch with the speaker
    of the National Assembly, Artur Bagdasaryan, and demand that measures
    be taken to free them, Dallakyan said.

    "Such acts by the authorities testify to the fact that the junta is in
    its death throes," he said. The leaders of the Justice bloc have sent
    a letter to Council of Europe Secretary-General Walter Schwimmer, and
    to the president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
    Europe, Peter Schieder.

    The letter mentions "illegal acts by the authorities against peaceful
    demonstrators".

    Another member of the Justice faction, Shavarsh Kocharyan, today
    accused the Armenian authorities of carrying out "the policy of state
    terror against their own people". He said that the authorities have
    consistently ignored the constitution which entitles its citizens to
    stage peaceful rallies and marches.

    The speakers told the briefing that the opposition's decision to stage
    a rally and march to the presidential residence today at 1600 [0900
    gmt] remains unchanged.
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