EIGHT PEOPLE KILLED OVERNIGHT IN ARMENIAN UNREST – SUMMARY
German Press Agency
March 2 2008
Yerevan – Eight people were killed overnight in unrest in Armenia,
police in the capital Yerevan reported Sunday, citing health
officials. Witnesses reported dozens of people wounded during the
clashes between police and supporters of opposition presidential
candidate Levon Ter-Petrosian, while police said 33 officers were
injured.
A 20-day state of emergency declared by outgoing President Robert
Kocharian was confirmed Sunday by the Armenia parliament on Sunday.
Demonstrators loyal to Ter-Petrosian claim the February 19 presidential
election had been rigged.
Official results from the Central Election Committee (CEC) showed
that Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian took 52.86 per cent of the vote
with final ballots counted, while Ter-Petrosian 21.43 per cent.
The results put Sarkisian over the 50 per cent hurdle needed to avoid
a run-off with the second-place finisher.