Associated Press Worldstream
February 5, 2005 Saturday 12:14 PM Eastern Time

Gang shootout in Armenian capital kills one, wounds two

YEREVAN, Armenia

A gun fight broke out between criminal gangs in the Armenian capital,
killing one person and wounding two, Yerevan police said Saturday.

The shooting broke out on the outskirts of Yerevan Friday evening and
lasted for nearly 10 minutes, the Yerevan city police press service
said.

Three people were wounded in the fighting, and were rushed to a
nearby hospital in a private car. One of the wounded died en route to
the hospital; another remained in serious condition Saturday. Police
identified one of the wounded as an American citizen.

Police later seized an AK-74 assault rifle and gun cartridges from
the car.

It was unclear what sparked the fighting.

Organized crime is widespread in this former Soviet republic, and
gang-related killings are common.