01 March 2008, 13:16
Oppositional rally and clashes with police continue in the capital of Armenia
As of 11:30 p.m. local time, the rally in the centre of Yerevan continues, despite the state of emergency introduced by President of Armenia, according to official information, because of disorders in the capital. Clashes of protesters with the police are registered.
Let us note here that the state of emergency introduced for the term of 20 days bans such mass actions like demonstrations, marches and rallies.
During the latest two hours, the capital witnesses active deployment of detachments of both internal troops and army divisions. The central area, including the Republic Square, which houses the governmental buildings, is cordoned by soldiers along the whole perimeter. There are also infantry combat vehicles in the square, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.
As of 11:30 p.m., the number of people who gathered in the Grigoriy Lusavorich Street makes by different estimates from 50 to 100 thousand. Within the latest two-three hours several attempts were undertaken by internal troops to attack the participants of the rally. However, the protesters organized defence, and two attempts to attack them failed.
The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports that according to the latest data the protesters set police cars on fire in the Mashtots Avenue. They also fired two specialized vehicles for installation of barbed wire.
The Armenian police made a statement, in which the actions of the supporters of Levon Ter-Petrosyan who have gathered in the centre of Yerevan near the Mayoralty of the city are treated as uncontrollable.
As a result of the operation conducted by the internal troops today at about 7 a.m., the participants of the sit-down strike were forced out of the Freedom Square. According to Levon Ter-Petrosyan, the police dispersed the peaceful demonstrators with the help of truncheons and electroshock.
Author: Lilit Ovanisyan, CK correspondent
