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Police in Armenian break up presidential election protest
InTheNews.co.uk, UK
March 1 2008
Saturday, 01 Mar 2008 12:35
Police in Armenia's capital city, Yerevan, have broken up a 10-day
protest by demonstrators who claim the country's presidential election
was rigged.
Thousands of opposition supporters have been demonstrating on a daily
basis in the capital's Freedom Square since prime minister Serzh
Sarkisian was elected to replace Robert Kockarain as president on
February 19th.
Earlier today, police moved into the square to disperse the opposition
camp, where protestors have been calling for the opposition politician
Levn Ter-Petrosian to be declared president.
A spokesman for Mr Ter-Petrosian claimed that riot police moved into
the square at 07:30 am (03:30 GMT) this morning.
"They came, they beat people up and they removed everyone," the
Reuters news agency quotes Arman Musinyan as saying.
Police claim they had received information that a violent coup was
being prepared at the camp and in a statement said they had seized
pistols and grenades during today's raid.
Supporters of Mr Ter-Petrosian however claimed that they would continue
to protest against the election result.
"Permission or no permission, we will all the same press ahead with
protests, because rallies and marches can only be banned when there
is state of emergency," a supporter told reporters.
"I am deeply convinced that even if Sarkisian stays on, he won't be a
legitimate president. I have no doubt the people won't tolerate this."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
InTheNews.co.uk, UK
March 1 2008
Saturday, 01 Mar 2008 12:35
Police in Armenia's capital city, Yerevan, have broken up a 10-day
protest by demonstrators who claim the country's presidential election
was rigged.
Thousands of opposition supporters have been demonstrating on a daily
basis in the capital's Freedom Square since prime minister Serzh
Sarkisian was elected to replace Robert Kockarain as president on
February 19th.
Earlier today, police moved into the square to disperse the opposition
camp, where protestors have been calling for the opposition politician
Levn Ter-Petrosian to be declared president.
A spokesman for Mr Ter-Petrosian claimed that riot police moved into
the square at 07:30 am (03:30 GMT) this morning.
"They came, they beat people up and they removed everyone," the
Reuters news agency quotes Arman Musinyan as saying.
Police claim they had received information that a violent coup was
being prepared at the camp and in a statement said they had seized
pistols and grenades during today's raid.
Supporters of Mr Ter-Petrosian however claimed that they would continue
to protest against the election result.
"Permission or no permission, we will all the same press ahead with
protests, because rallies and marches can only be banned when there
is state of emergency," a supporter told reporters.
"I am deeply convinced that even if Sarkisian stays on, he won't be a
legitimate president. I have no doubt the people won't tolerate this."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress