Opposition supporters march through Armenian capital

Agence France Presse
March 21, 2008 Friday

YEREVAN, March 21 2008

Around 2,000 opposition supporters marched amid heavy security
through the centre of the Armenian capital on Friday, after the
lifting of a state of emergency imposed following clashes earlier
this month.

Activists carried candles, carnations and pictures of some of the
eight people who died on March 1 when security forces shut down a
protest in Yerevan against a presidential election officially won by
Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian.

The march was not authorised by city authorities and was followed by
hundreds of security officers, many of them wearing riot gear. Many
of the protesters were in black mourning clothes.

The demonstration was the first such event after the authorities
lifted a 20-day state of emergency imposed in Yerevan. The state of
emergency banned public rallies and imposed restrictions on the
media.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS