EIGHT KILLED IN ARMENIA PROTESTS OVER PRESIDENTIAL VOTE RESULTS-2
RIA Novosti
March 2 2008
Russia
YEREVAN, March 2 (RIA Novosti) – Eight people were killed and over
130 wounded in Armenia’s capital in overnight clashes between police
and protesters unhappy with recent presidential election results,
police said on Sunday.
"The Prosecutor General’s Office is investigating the circumstances of
those people’s death," police said adding they were being identified.
Armenian riot police used tear gas and electric stun guns to disperse
thousands of supporters of Levon Ter-Petrosyan, who was defeated by
Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisyan in the February 19 vote. Sarkisyan
gained 52.8% of the vote against the former’s 21.5%. Protesters said
the polls were rigged.
President Robert Kocharyan declared a state of emergency late on
Saturday to be effective until March 20.
Health Minister Arutyun Kushkyan said on national television on Friday
a total of 131 were injured in the clashes.
"Hospitals provided medical aid to 131 people, including 72 police
and soldiers and 59 civilians," he said adding 16 soldiers and 18
civilians suffered gunshot wounds, with eight of them lethal ones. 41
people have been released from hospitals by now.
Ter-Petrosyan’s supporters have rallied since the next day after the
polls, demanding a rerun and access to national television. On Friday,
the opposition challenger appealed against the vote results with the
Constitutional Court.
Foreign monitors said the vote in the ex-Soviet Caucasus state
corresponded to international standards.
Protests turned violent on Saturday, when groups of protesters set fire
to two dozen cars, including police vehicles and ambulances, smashed
windows in major buildings in central Yerevan and looted a supermarket.
The army took control of the capital by early morning. Several armored
military trucks and soldiers patrolled the area near the government
and foreign ministry buildings in the center.