Armenian police disperse election protest in Yerevan

11:53 | 01/ 03/ 2008

YEREVAN, March 1 (RIA Novosti) – Armenian riot police have broken up
a protest rally in the capital Yerevan by several thousand people
protesting the results of the February 19 presidential election in
the Caucasus republic.

Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisyan won with 52.82% of the
vote. His nearest rivals, Armenia’s first president Levon Ter-Petrosyan
and ex-parliamentary speaker Artur Bagdasaryan received 21.5% and
17.7%, respectively. Six other candidates gained less than 10% of
the votes.

Police used truncheons, tear gas and electric stun guns to disperse
the crowd.

According to some reports, police have detained opposition presidential
candidate Levon Ter-Petrosyan.

Police have surrounded the square, are detaining the protesters and
forcing them into buses.