ITAR-TASS, Russia
April 9 2004

Armenian opposition begins open-ended sit-in strike

09.04.2004, 21.00

YEREVAN, April 9 (Itar-Tass) — The Armenian opposition that demands
the resignation of President Robert Kocharyan begins an open-ended
sit-in strike on the square in front of the Yerevan Opera Theatre,
speakers at a Friday rally of the opposition announced.

The rally organizers said that up to 60,000 people participated in
the rally, the police said it was up to 6,500.

The opposition demanded that the authorities set a day of the
referendum before April 12, and pledged to hold rallies at 6:00 p.m.
every day.

A march in the city center followed the rally. The march will not go
to the presidential palace, which is protected by the police, in
order to avoid clashes, Chairman of the Republic Party Albert Bazeyan
said.