Melbourne Herald Sun, Australia
Feb 21 2008

Armenian opposition says army on side

>From correspondents in Yerevan, Armenia

February 22, 2008 04:31am

ARMENIAN opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosian overnight called on
tens of thousands of supporters to keep up mass protests against
presidential election results, promising that the army was on his
side.

Around 25,000 people demonstrated on Freedom Square in the capital
Yerevan against results from Wednesday’s polls that gave Prime
Minister Serzh Sarkisian victory. Activists set up a handful of tents
for a 24 hour protest.

"Starting from this moment our protests will not end," opposition
activist Nikol Pashenian told the crowd. "Freedom Square will be the
centre of our protests until the authorities leave."

Addressing the crowd, Mr Ter-Petrosian said two deputy defence
ministers were in talks with senior military officials to ensure the
safety of the crowd.

"They will not let the army be used against the people," Mr
Ter-Petrosian said. "All of the leaders of the military are united
with the people."

He called on university students to boycott classes and join protests
tomorrow.

Protesters braving sub-zero temperature chanted "Victory, Victory!"
"Fight to the End!" and "Levon! Levon! Levon!"

By early evening the numbers had fallen to around 10,000, an AFP
reporter said.

Official results gave 52.9 per cent of the vote to Mr Sarkisian, the
choice of outgoing President Robert Kocharian, who is obliged to step
down after his second term. Mr Ter-Petrosian trailed with 21.5 per
cent.

Mr Ter-Petrosian has described the conduct of the election as
"shameful", alleging that dozens of his activists were beaten on
election day and that ballot stuffing, multiple voting and voter
intimidation were widespread.

He demanded a new election.

Observers from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in
Europe described the election as "mostly" in line with international
standards.

The US State Department said it was "concerned" at reports of
problems in the count.

Mr Kocharian hand-picked the prime minister to succeed him after Mr
Sarkisian’s Republican Party of Armenia swept parliamentary polls
last May. After two five-year terms, Mr Kocharian was
constitutionally barred from running again.

Together they have been credited with ensuring relative stability and
strong growth. But critics accuse the government of tolerating
widespread corruption and cracking down on opponents.

Analysts predict Mr Sarkisian will follow Mr Kocharian’s policies,
pursuing close ties with Moscow and a hawkish stance in relations
with neighbouring Azerbaijan and Turkey.

The latter two have cut diplomatic ties and sealed their borders with
Armenia over its support for Armenian separatists in the rebel
Azerbaijani region of Nagorny Karabakh.

Ankara has also been angered by Yerevan’s campaign to have the World
War I-era mass killings of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire recognised
as genocide.

Mr Ter-Petrosian has called for a more conciliatory approach with
Azerbaijan and Turkey, saying the government has left Armenia
isolated.

But overnight Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul sent congratulations to
Mr Sarkisian and called for a normalisation of ties.

At the opposition rally, Ter-Petrosian associate Mr Pashenian hinted
the opposition could use more aggressive methods to make its point.

"Our actions will be peaceful as long as all legal methods have not
been exhausted," Mr Pashenian told the crowd. "Be prepared for all
scenarios."