PRESS TV, Iran
Feb 19 2008

Armenia chooses PM for president
Tue, 19 Feb 2008 22:01:52

Polls have closed in Armenia’s presidential election amid accusations
by the opposition of rigging and ‘kidnapping’ of representatives.

Exit polls commissioned by Armenia Public Television suggested Prime
Minister Serzh Sarkisian, had won the race in the first round
Tuesday, with 57.1 percent of the votes.

The leading opposition candidate, former president Levon
Ter-Petrosian, came in second place with 17.4 percent while Artur
Baghdasarian came in third with 14.6 percent, according to the poll.

A spokesman for Ter-Petrosian’s campaign said the violations included
‘ballot-stuffing’ and the ‘kidnapping’ or beating of opposition
representatives at the polling stations.

Even before the closing of Polls at 8:00 pm after 12 hours of voting,
the campaign vowed to hold a mass rally in Yerevan on Wednesday.