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Thousands Rally For Armenian Opposition Candidate

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  • Thousands Rally For Armenian Opposition Candidate

    THOUSANDS RALLY FOR ARMENIAN OPPOSITION CANDIDATE

    Agence France Presse -- English
    February 3, 2008 Sunday 5:21 PM GMT

    Thousands of Armenians took to the streets of the capital Yerevan on
    Sunday to show their support for opposition presidential candidate
    Artur Baghdasarian ahead of elections on February 19.

    Baghdasarian, the leader of the Country of Law party and a former
    speaker of parliament, used his address to the crowd to criticise
    President Robert Kocharian's government over corruption and social
    and economic problems.

    "If I become president, I will double salaries and pensions, create
    100,000-150,000 new jobs, cancel obligatory military service to
    make the army professional and reduce taxes," Baghdasarian, 39,
    told the crowd.

    Thousands travelled to the capital from outlying regions to support
    Baghdasarian, who polls show is running a distant second to Kocharian's
    hand-picked successor, Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian.

    Organisers said that around 100,000 people were present but media
    reports said the total number was significantly less. Police declined
    to give an estimate.

    "Our country needs a young and educated leader, who many can connect
    with their future. Artur Baghdasarian could be such a president,"
    said Gegam Kazarian, a 25-year-old builder from the city of Abovian.

    Sarkisian is facing eight opponents in the race, including
    Baghdasarian, former president Levon Ter-Petrosian and the deputy
    speaker of parliament, Vahan Hovhannisian.

    After two five-year terms in office, Kocharian is constitutionally
    barred from seeking re-election.

    An ex-Soviet republic bordered by Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran and Turkey,
    Armenia remains mired in poverty despite enjoying record economic
    growth in recent years.
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