ARMENIA VOTE PROTESTER DIES OF WOUNDS: OFFICIAL
Agence France Presse — English
April 14, 2008 Monday 2:34 PM GMT
An Armenian opposition protester seriously injured during post-election
unrest on March 1 has died, bringing the death toll from the clashes
to 10, a health ministry spokeswoman said Monday.
Samvel Harutunian, 29, who had been in a coma since arriving in
hospital, died Friday night, health ministry spokeswoman Ruslana
Gevorgian told AFP.
He had received a heavy blow to the head during the unrest.
Three other people injured during the clashes remained in hospital,
Gevorgian added. Two were in a stable condition and one was due to
be released Tuesday.
Two policemen and seven civilians were killed during street battles
involving opposition supporters, who rallied for 11 days to protest the
victory of outgoing prime minister Serzh Sarkisian in the presidential
election.
They alleged that the ballot had been rigged in Sarkisian’s favour.
Dozens more protesters were injured, many from gunshot wounds.
Sarkisian was sworn in as Armenia’s president on April 9.
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 experienced
repeated political violence and post-election protests since gaining
its independence with the 1991 Soviet collapse.