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8 Reported Killed In Armenia After Clashes Between Police Protesters

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  • 8 Reported Killed In Armenia After Clashes Between Police Protesters

    EIGHT REPORTED KILLED IN ARMENIA AFTER CLASHES BETWEEN POLICE, PROTESTERS

    EurasiaNet
    March 2 2008
    NY

    Eight people are reported to have been killed in overnight clashes
    between police and opposition protesters in the Armenian capital,
    Yerevan.

    The protesters, who have rallied for 12 straight days, accuse the
    government of rigging last month's presidential election.

    RFE/RL's Armenian Service reports that troops and armored vehicles
    are patrolling the main streets of Yerevan today.

    Armenian President Robert Kocharian declared a 20-day state of
    emergency following similar clashes on March 1. Just hours after
    Armenian police and Interior Ministry troops used truncheons, tear
    gas, and electric stun guns to disperse opposition supporters from
    a central Yerevan square, thousands who regrouped for a second rally
    were again met with force by the authorities.

    Riot police fired tracer bullets into the air and tear gas to disperse
    the crowd of 15,000, and some demonstrators hurled rocks and Molotov
    cocktails at police. Several vehicles were set fire or otherwise
    destroyed in the course of the day.

    Human Rights Watch has charged the Armenian police with using
    "excessive force and violence" to disperse demonstrators.

    As part of the state of emergency, mass gatherings have been banned,
    and media outlets are required to only use official information
    when reporting on the domestic political situation. The movement of
    citizens has been restricted and the authorities will be allowed to
    search vehicles.

    The Armenia parliament today voted to confirm the state of emergency.

    Eighty-one of the 131 lawmakers present cast their votes in favor.

    The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is sending
    a special envoy to Yerevan to offer help in mediating the crisis.

    Ambassador Heikki Talvitie is to meet with both President-elect Serzh
    Sarkisian and opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosian, the second-place
    finisher in the February 19 election who has claimed victory.

    Speaking today to RFE/RL, Arman Musinian, a spokesman for
    Ter-Petrosian, said the opposition has three demands -- "to annul
    the election, to punish those who rigged the elections, and to free
    all political detainees."

    House Arrest

    Ter-Petrossian told RFE/RL after the initial early morning crackdown on
    March 1 that he had been placed under house arrest, and that a number
    of his followers were detained. Police were reportedly guarding the
    entrance to his home.

    Daily rallies following the contentious vote attracted tens of
    thousands of protesters to Armenia's Liberty Square, where they
    voiced their belief that the elections were marred by fraud. A tent
    camp was set up and participants vowed to remain on the square until
    their demands for a new election were met.

    But after Sarkisian secured key support for the formation of a
    coalition government on February 29, the authorities made good on
    their earlier threats to break up the rallies.

    Hundreds of police and Interior Ministry troops surrounded the square
    at 7:00 a.m. local time on the morning of March 1, and moved in to
    break up the crowd.

    Police reportedly forced scores of protesters onto buses, taking them
    to local police stations.

    RFE/RL's Armenian Service reported that opposition figure and member
    of parliament Armen Martirosian was hospitalized for injuries received
    during the crackdown.

    Former President Ter-Petrossian described the events that led to
    the initial clash that resulted in 31 injuries during an interview
    with RFE/RL.

    "People were sleeping quietly. [Security forces] came in large numbers
    with truncheons and started beating. At that time I was near the
    microphone and I called on people to stay calm," he said.

    "[Security forces] didn't start the beating immediately. First they
    stood in front of people and I urged people not to get in contact
    with them and to stay quiet to see what they want. But nobody told us
    anything, nothing was negotiated. And they suddenly attacked people
    with truncheons and electric stun guns."

    Violence Condemned

    Within hours of the morning police action, OSCE Chairman in
    Office Ilkka Kanerva condemned the use of force against peaceful
    demonstrators.

    "I urge the authorities to use maximum restraint," Kanerva said. "I am
    troubled that there are reports of casualties. I urge the authorities
    to release those detained, and I again call on the government and
    the opposition to engage in dialogue."

    The police said in a statement issued on March 1 that they took action
    to disperse the protesters after learning that they were waiting
    to receive "large amounts of firearms, grenades, metal rods, and
    truncheons," which they believed would be used "to stage provocations
    and stir up mass disturbances."

    The authorities said after the initial raid that police officers were
    wounded and that weapons were found in the protestors' camp.

    Police chased media away from the square as army trucks arrived to
    take away the makeshift tent camp.

    Protesters later regrouped in front of the French Embassy for a planned
    rally as units of riot police arrived on the scene, setting the stage
    for the violence later in the day.

    Opposition supporters had been protesting daily in Liberty Square
    since Prime Minister Sarkisian was elected to replace his ally, Robert
    Kocharian, as president. Official results gave Sarkisian nearly 53
    percent of the vote, with Ter-Petrossian getting 21.5 percent.

    Ter-Petrossian is claiming that he is the rightful first-round winner,
    and that Sarkisian used ballot stuffing and intimidation to steal
    victory. Sarkisian has denied the charges.

    In its initial assessment, the election-monitoring arm of the OSCE
    declared the election "mostly in line" with Armenia's international
    commitments, while also noting the need for "further improvements."

    The elections have been endorsed by the European Union and the U.S.

    State Department has congratulated the Armenian people on an "active"
    and "competitive" election.

    Calls For Restraint Ignored

    Authorities had warned on February 29 that their patience with the
    protests in Yerevan was running out, and alleged that those behind
    the rallies plan to seize power illegally.

    The Council of Europe and the OSCE had called on the Armenian
    authorities to exercise restraint. The United States Mission to the
    OSCE said Washington was "very concerned" about the post-election
    arrests of opposition politicians, as well as reports that authorities
    have forcibly closed opposition offices.

    At least six prominent opposition figures close to Ter-Petrossian
    have been placed in pretrial custody on a number of criminal charges,
    including illegal arms possession and assault.

    Sarkisian's efforts to gain acceptance for his victory received a
    boost on February 29 when he reached a deal on the formation of a
    coalition government with the third-place finisher in the elections.

    Before agreeing to become Security Council secretary in the next
    government, Orinats Yerkir party leader Artur Baghdasarian had decried
    the election as deeply flawed. Baghdasarian also accused Ter-Petrossian
    of trying to rig the election.
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