DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
March 7, 2008 Friday

ARMENIAN ARMY RESTORES ORDER IN YEREVAN

The Armenian army took over Yerevan following the deterioration of
the situation caused by dispersal of the rally of ex-president Levon
Ter-Petrosjan’s supporters, Chief of the General Staff, Colonel
General Seiran Oganjan, said.

"The Armed Forces are fully in control. They will do everything
necessary during the emergency rule to retain stability and prevent
any similar developments from happening again," Oganjan promised.
"The army will only fire at whoever is the first to open up."

Oganjan added that the army was ordered to set up sentries around
vital objects of the capital and assist the police with maintenance
of law whenever necessary.

Oganjan said the deployment of heavy military hardware in the capital
would have no effect on overall defense capacity. He denounced the
rumors that deputy defense ministers lieutenant generals Manvel
Grigorjan and Gurgen Melkonjan had joined the opposition.

Source: Dni.RU, March 4, 2008