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Women call for resignation of Armenian leaders in holiday protest

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  • Women call for resignation of Armenian leaders in holiday protest

    Women call for resignation of Armenian leaders in holiday protest

    Associated Press
    March 8, 2004 Monday 8:20 AM Eastern Time

    YEREVAN, Armenia

    Hundreds of women who oppose Armenia's leadership marched through the
    capital on Monday, marking International Women's Day with calls for
    the resignation of President Robert Kocharian and his government.

    Carrying flowers and signs reading "Women against arbitrary rule,"
    about 1,500 women marched through central Yerevan to the president's
    residence, where they held a rally denouncing the authorities.

    Speakers at the rally, which was organized by the Caucasus Mountain
    nation's political opposition, called for the removal of Kocharian and
    his government and their replacement by opposition leaders.

    Kocharian won a second term in presidential elections a year ago that
    sparked mass protests, including nearly daily demonstrations between
    the first round of voting in February 2003 and the runoff in early
    March.

    The opposition alleged widespread violations in both rounds of the
    election, including ballot-box stuffing and intimidation of its
    activists. The election was followed by parliamentary ballot in which
    the pro-government party won the most votes.

    In April, Armenia's Constitutional Court confirmed the results of the
    presidential vote but suggested that a referendum be held within a
    year to gauge the public's confidence in the nation's
    leaders. Opposition leaders have pressed for the plebiscite.

    International Women's Day dates back to the Soviet era. Some former
    Soviet republics have scrapped the holiday, but in Armenia, Russia and
    some others it remains an official holiday and is widely celebrate.
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