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Today's Zaman, Turkey
Feb. 26, 2008
Armenia tells poll protesters to end demonstrations
The authorities in the Armenian capital on Monday told crowds
protesting against the result of last week's presidential election
for the sixth successive day to end their rallies.
Up to 25,000 people have gathered in Yerevan's main square every day
since the Feb. 19 election demanding a re-run of the poll, which they
say was rigged in favor of Prime Minister Serzh Sarksyan.
Sarksyan officially won 53 percent of the vote against 21.5 percent
for his nearest rival, former president Levan
Ter-Petrosyan."Organizers have to stop arranging these unsanctioned
demonstrations," Yerevan's city administration said in a statement.
"The city transport system cannot work and the rallies are infringing
people's right to travel and move freely." Hundreds of police watched
the crowd, which remained peaceful.
Ex-Soviet Armenia lies on the western fringes of the Caucasus, which
carries a pipeline that pumps oil from the Caspian Sea to Europe.
Western monitors said the election process could be improved but was
broadly in line with Armenia's international commitments.
Earlier in the day the Foreign Ministry confirmed that it had fired
seven diplomats for siding with the protesters, and said it was
unethical for the diplomats to involve themselves with politics. Last
week the deputy prosecutor-general joined the protests Sunday's
rally, which lasted for more than five hours, was attended by around
20,000 people -- fewer than the 35,000 who turned out on Saturday. "
Levon is president - victory!" was one of the rally cries. Protesters
ignored police requests to disperse.
Security services said that amongst the opposition figures arrested
early on Sunday was Aram Karapetyan, the leader of the New Times
Party, who had backed Ter-Petrosyan's campaign.
Feb. 26, 2008
Armenia tells poll protesters to end demonstrations
The authorities in the Armenian capital on Monday told crowds
protesting against the result of last week's presidential election
for the sixth successive day to end their rallies.
Up to 25,000 people have gathered in Yerevan's main square every day
since the Feb. 19 election demanding a re-run of the poll, which they
say was rigged in favor of Prime Minister Serzh Sarksyan.
Sarksyan officially won 53 percent of the vote against 21.5 percent
for his nearest rival, former president Levan
Ter-Petrosyan."Organizers have to stop arranging these unsanctioned
demonstrations," Yerevan's city administration said in a statement.
"The city transport system cannot work and the rallies are infringing
people's right to travel and move freely." Hundreds of police watched
the crowd, which remained peaceful.
Ex-Soviet Armenia lies on the western fringes of the Caucasus, which
carries a pipeline that pumps oil from the Caspian Sea to Europe.
Western monitors said the election process could be improved but was
broadly in line with Armenia's international commitments.
Earlier in the day the Foreign Ministry confirmed that it had fired
seven diplomats for siding with the protesters, and said it was
unethical for the diplomats to involve themselves with politics. Last
week the deputy prosecutor-general joined the protests Sunday's
rally, which lasted for more than five hours, was attended by around
20,000 people -- fewer than the 35,000 who turned out on Saturday. "
Levon is president - victory!" was one of the rally cries. Protesters
ignored police requests to disperse.
Security services said that amongst the opposition figures arrested
early on Sunday was Aram Karapetyan, the leader of the New Times
Party, who had backed Ter-Petrosyan's campaign.