Armenian President: the demonstrators fired at the policemen; "the names
of the organizers are known and they will bear responsibility"

March 2, 2008

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Armenian President Robert Kocharian stated today
that he signed a decree on announcing state of emergency in Yerevan
only after he received information on the injury of 8 policemen by
the demonstrators.

Mediamax reports that the Armenian President said this at a special
beefing today.

Robert Kocharian stated that "the demonstrators are shooting at the
policemen, hiding behind the peaceful people". The President stated
that serious damage is caused to state and private property, shops
are plundered.

"This situation required special attitude, and I, being the guarantor
of the Constitution, was obliged to make the corresponding decision",
Robert Kocharian stated.

According to him, everything started from the moment, when this morning
the participants of Ter-Petrosian’s rally refused to obey the legal
demand of the policemen to inspect the Freedom Square, which became
a reason for the collision. "The policemen should have revealed the
same arms and grenades, which are used today by the crowd", Robert
Kocharian stated.

"The names of the organizers are known and they will bear
responsibility for their deeds according to the law", the President
stressed, noting that "tough measures" will be undertaken.

"I address the people with the request to show restraint and ask them
to understand the steps, which the authorities are forced to take up",
Robert Kocharian stated. The Armenian President said that a decision
is made not to introduce a curfew in Yerevan, "to within the limits
of the possible minimize the inconveniences for our citizens".

Robert Kocharian also stated that for the settlement of the situation,
the Armed Forces will be used. "We are forced to do this after the fact
that people from the crowd started shooting at the unarmed policemen",
the President stated.