ARMENIA FOILS OPPOSITION ATTEMPT TO ATTACK TV CENTER

Xinhua General News Service
February 27, 2008 Wednesday 1:21 AM EST

Armenia’s National Security Service said on Tuesday it had foiled an
attempt by the opposition to storm the national television center,
Russian news agencies reported.

The service said a man arrested on Monday, identified as Karen
Ter-Stepanian, revealed that supporters of opposition presidential
candidate Levon Ter-Petrosyan planned a march to the television tower
and the Public Television and Radio Company.

"They planned to enter the building and demand a chance for
Ter-Petrosyan to go live on air," the service was quoted by the
Interfax news agency as saying.

Several people have been arrested in connection with the plot.

Opposition supporters have been rallying in the capital Yerevan to
protest the Feb. 19 presidential election, which Prime Minister Serzh
Sargsyan won with 52.8 percent of the vote.

The opposition led by Ter-Petrosyan, who got 21.5 percent of the vote,
claimed the vote was rigged and demanded a repeat vote.

Armenian President Robert Kocharian on Tuesday called the rallies the
work of "irresponsible politicians" and urged protesters to come to
their senses.

"No authorities in any country in the world would tolerate processions,
rallies or other actions that were unsanctioned," he said in a
televised address, according to Interfax.

"It’s the time to wake up, come to one’s senses," Kocharian said.