ARMENIAN POLICE READY TO RESPOND TO ATTEMPTS TO DISTURB PUBLIC ORDER – STATEMENT

Interfax
Feb 23 2008

YEREVAN. Feb 23 (Interfax) – The Armenian police say they are ready
to respond to attempts to disturb public order in the country.

"The leadership and all units of the Armenian police are
unconditionally performing their duties as stipulated by the law and
are prepared to resolutely respond to any attempts to disturb public
order and destabilize the situation, prevent extremist manifestations,
and protect people’s constitutional rights," the police said in
a statement.

The police once again denied rumors alleging that police chief
Col. Gen. Aik Arutyunian had resigned, rumor that has been spreading
in Yerevan.

"We declare that the rumors on Armenian police chief Aik Arutyunian’s
and the police leadership’s resignation, which were heard at an
opposition rally on Freedom Square in Yerevan and disseminated by a
number of electronic media outlets, are untrue," it said.

The Armenian opposition has been staging rallies, processions, and
strikes in Yerevan since February 20. Police have deployed cordons
around Freedom Square and taken the buildings of the Central Elections
Commission, the prosecutor’s office and a number of other government
institutions under protection.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress