ARMENIAN PRESIDENT PLEDGES TO EASE STATE OF EMERGENCY

Voice of America
March 12 2008

Armenian President Robert Kocharian has pledged to ease a state of
emergency imposed earlier this month after opposition protests led
to violent clashes with police.

The Armenian leader said he will soon sign a decree easing the
restrictions, including those on the news media.

Mr. Kocharian imposed a 20-day state of emergency in the capital,
Yerevan, March 1 after clashes between riot police and protesters
killed eight people and wounded 131.

Opposition leaders charge voting in last month’s presidential election
was rigged in favor of Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisyan, who won a
landslide against former president Levon Ter-Petrosyan.

Meanwhile, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza,
in an interview with VOA Armenian Service, blamed both sides for the
violence, which he called tragic. The U.S. official, who recently
returned from Armenia, said the United States is trying to get the
democratic process in Armenia back on track.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress