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Agence France Presse -- English
February 23, 2008 Saturday 6:14 PM GMT
Armenian president accuses protesters of trying to seize power
Michael Mainville
YEREVAN, Feb 23 2008
President Robert Kocharian accused the Armenian opposition of trying
to seize power Saturday as tens of thousands protested for a fourth
day demanding a presidential election be overturned.
Some 50,000 supporters of opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosian
gathered under in the central Freedom Square, waving Armenian flags
and chanting "Levon!" and "Fight to the End!"
It was the fourth day of protests against the result of last
Tuesday's presidential poll, officially won by Prime Minister Serzh
Sarkisian.
The protests have been peaceful, but Kocharian warned the government
was prepared to take action.
"I view these actions as an attempt to seize power," Kocharian told a
meeting of senior army and police officials, according to a
statement.
"No organisation can put itself above the law and constitution and
practice illegal activities," he said. "Our actions will be decisive
and firm to maintain stability and the constitutional order of the
country."
Several thousand demonstrators marched Saturday on the headquarters
of national public radio to protest what they allege has been a lack
of coverage of their campaign.
"They are not reporting anything that is happening in our country,"
said Lyudmila Sarkisian, who led the march and read out a letter of
protest in front of the radio headquarters, which was surrounded by
police.
Activists have set up about two dozen tents in the square and several
hundred have camped out overnight, huddling around campfires to keep
warm in sub-zero temperatures. Many of the most committed activists
are unemployed men hoping that a change in government would mean new
jobs.
Neither the tent camp nor the rallies have been sanctioned by the
authorities.
Official results from the election gave 52.9 percent of the vote to
Sarkisian, hand-picked to succeed Kocharian, who is obliged to step
down after his second term.
Ter-Petrosian, who trailed with 21.5 percent, has demanded a rerun of
the "shameful" election, alleging that dozens of his activists were
beaten and that ballot stuffing, multiple voting and voter
intimidation were widespread.
Observers from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in
Europe described the election as "mostly" in line with international
standards.
A number of high-ranking officials have joined the opposition,
including deputy prosecutor general Gagik Dzhangirian, who was fired
on Friday after declaring his support for Ter-Petrosian.
Ter-Petrosian told the crowd Saturday that he had widespread support
among government officials.
"The government machine is breaking," he said. "I know many officials
who fear the government so cannot openly support us, but they will
stand with us."
Several dozen Sarkisian supporters held a small counter-demonstration
outside Ter-Petrosian's home on the outskirts of Yerevan Saturday.
"We don't want Levon back, we had nothing when he was president. All
we had was hunger, cold and darkness," said protester Yegiazar
Aristakesian.
Ter-Petrosian was Armenia's president between 1991 and 1998 and
returned to politics last year vowing to fight corruption, after a
long period of silence.
The current prime minister and president have been credited with
ensuring relative stability and strong economic growth. But critics
accuse the government of tolerating widespread corruption and
cracking down on opponents.
February 23, 2008 Saturday 6:14 PM GMT
Armenian president accuses protesters of trying to seize power
Michael Mainville
YEREVAN, Feb 23 2008
President Robert Kocharian accused the Armenian opposition of trying
to seize power Saturday as tens of thousands protested for a fourth
day demanding a presidential election be overturned.
Some 50,000 supporters of opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosian
gathered under in the central Freedom Square, waving Armenian flags
and chanting "Levon!" and "Fight to the End!"
It was the fourth day of protests against the result of last
Tuesday's presidential poll, officially won by Prime Minister Serzh
Sarkisian.
The protests have been peaceful, but Kocharian warned the government
was prepared to take action.
"I view these actions as an attempt to seize power," Kocharian told a
meeting of senior army and police officials, according to a
statement.
"No organisation can put itself above the law and constitution and
practice illegal activities," he said. "Our actions will be decisive
and firm to maintain stability and the constitutional order of the
country."
Several thousand demonstrators marched Saturday on the headquarters
of national public radio to protest what they allege has been a lack
of coverage of their campaign.
"They are not reporting anything that is happening in our country,"
said Lyudmila Sarkisian, who led the march and read out a letter of
protest in front of the radio headquarters, which was surrounded by
police.
Activists have set up about two dozen tents in the square and several
hundred have camped out overnight, huddling around campfires to keep
warm in sub-zero temperatures. Many of the most committed activists
are unemployed men hoping that a change in government would mean new
jobs.
Neither the tent camp nor the rallies have been sanctioned by the
authorities.
Official results from the election gave 52.9 percent of the vote to
Sarkisian, hand-picked to succeed Kocharian, who is obliged to step
down after his second term.
Ter-Petrosian, who trailed with 21.5 percent, has demanded a rerun of
the "shameful" election, alleging that dozens of his activists were
beaten and that ballot stuffing, multiple voting and voter
intimidation were widespread.
Observers from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in
Europe described the election as "mostly" in line with international
standards.
A number of high-ranking officials have joined the opposition,
including deputy prosecutor general Gagik Dzhangirian, who was fired
on Friday after declaring his support for Ter-Petrosian.
Ter-Petrosian told the crowd Saturday that he had widespread support
among government officials.
"The government machine is breaking," he said. "I know many officials
who fear the government so cannot openly support us, but they will
stand with us."
Several dozen Sarkisian supporters held a small counter-demonstration
outside Ter-Petrosian's home on the outskirts of Yerevan Saturday.
"We don't want Levon back, we had nothing when he was president. All
we had was hunger, cold and darkness," said protester Yegiazar
Aristakesian.
Ter-Petrosian was Armenia's president between 1991 and 1998 and
returned to politics last year vowing to fight corruption, after a
long period of silence.
The current prime minister and president have been credited with
ensuring relative stability and strong economic growth. But critics
accuse the government of tolerating widespread corruption and
cracking down on opponents.