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ARMENIAN PRESIDENT WARNS AGAINST PROTESTS AFTER STATE OF EMERGENCY LIFTED
AP
2008-03-20 15:00:06
YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) - Armenia's president warned his opponents
Thursday against holding protests after a state of emergency is lifted
in the politically tense Caucasus Mountain nation.
President Robert Kocharian said police would break up any unauthorized
protests held after the 20-day state of emergency ends at midnight
Thursday.
"If there are new attempts to rally, I will immediately order the
police to take steps in accordance with the law," Kocharian said.
Public gatherings were prohibited during the state of emergency,
which was imposed March 1 after clashes between protesters and police
left eight people dead and dozens injured.
The violence erupted after police forcefully dispersed protesters
who claimed the government rigged the Feb. 19 presidential election
and demanded a new vote.
A spokesman for opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosian, Arman Masinian,
said authorities in the capital, Yerevan, denied permission to hold
rallies on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, citing public safety concerns.
He said the opposition would continue its struggle within the law
and has no plans to hold unauthorized rallies.
According to the official results, Kocharian's favored candidate, Prime
Minister Serzh Sarkisian, won the presidency with nearly 53 percent
of the vote, while Ter-Petrosian received about 21 percent. Sarkisian
will be inaugurated April 9.
The opposition alleged widespread fraud and sometimes violent pressure
on its supporters.
Scores of opposition supporters were detained, and Sarkisian said
Thursday that 106 remain under arrest.
Western countries have expressed concern about the government's
crackdown, while Russia _ which has close ties with Armenia and
maintains a military base in the ex-Soviet republic _ expressed
support.
AP
2008-03-20 15:00:06
YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) - Armenia's president warned his opponents
Thursday against holding protests after a state of emergency is lifted
in the politically tense Caucasus Mountain nation.
President Robert Kocharian said police would break up any unauthorized
protests held after the 20-day state of emergency ends at midnight
Thursday.
"If there are new attempts to rally, I will immediately order the
police to take steps in accordance with the law," Kocharian said.
Public gatherings were prohibited during the state of emergency,
which was imposed March 1 after clashes between protesters and police
left eight people dead and dozens injured.
The violence erupted after police forcefully dispersed protesters
who claimed the government rigged the Feb. 19 presidential election
and demanded a new vote.
A spokesman for opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosian, Arman Masinian,
said authorities in the capital, Yerevan, denied permission to hold
rallies on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, citing public safety concerns.
He said the opposition would continue its struggle within the law
and has no plans to hold unauthorized rallies.
According to the official results, Kocharian's favored candidate, Prime
Minister Serzh Sarkisian, won the presidency with nearly 53 percent
of the vote, while Ter-Petrosian received about 21 percent. Sarkisian
will be inaugurated April 9.
The opposition alleged widespread fraud and sometimes violent pressure
on its supporters.
Scores of opposition supporters were detained, and Sarkisian said
Thursday that 106 remain under arrest.
Western countries have expressed concern about the government's
crackdown, while Russia _ which has close ties with Armenia and
maintains a military base in the ex-Soviet republic _ expressed
support.