NEW ARMENIA PRESIDENT SWORN IN

Alalam News Network
April 9 2008
Iran

YEREVAN, April 9–Serzh Sarkisian was sworn in as Armenia’s new
president on Wednesday following a disputed election win that sparked
violent unrest in the ex-Soviet republic.

The ceremony, shown live on national television and followed by a
military parade, took place before dozens of foreign dignitaries and
government officials inside the capital Yerevan’s opera house.

Sarkisian, outgoing president Robert Kocharian’s hand-picked successor,
won 53 percent of the vote in February’s election.

The 53-year-old had been prime minister since last year after his
Republican Party swept parliamentary polls.

After the presidential elections, supporters of opposition candidate
Levon Ter-Petrosian rallied for 11 days against the result, accusing
authorities of rigging the vote.

Clashes erupted when riot police moved in to disperse the protesters
on March 1.

Seven civilians and one security officer were killed and dozens were
injured, many from gunshot wounds.

A 20-day state of emergency imposed after the unrest was lifted on
March 20, but tough restrictions on public demonstrations remains
in place.

Authorities have not said when the protest limits may be lifted.

Police have arrested 90 people in connection with the unrest, including
many senior opposition figures.

A mountainous country of about three million people — wedged between
Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran and Turkey — Armenia has seen repeated
political violence and post-election protests since gaining its
independence with the 1991 Soviet collapse.