PEOPLE CROWDED NEAR STATUE OF MIASNIKIAN

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09 April, 2008

Today while Serzh Sarkissian was swearing an oath at the National
Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet after Alexandre Spendiarian,
groups of policemen armed with truncheons rushed from Shahumian Square
towards the Statue of Miasnikian.

Crowds of people had grouped near the statue by 14:00.

They were shouting aloud, "Struggle to the end!"

"Freedom!"

The flow of people still continues. They lay flowers and light candles
in memory of the March 1 victims.

Policemen ask people to leave the site and ban their access to the
nearby park.