Earthtimes (press release), UK

Thousands protest against Armenian President Sarkisian
Posted : Fri, 04 Jul 2008 17:07:00 GMT
Author : DPA

Yerevan – Thousands of Armenians protested in the capital, Yerevan,
Friday against the policies of President Serzh Sarkisian, demanduing
the immediate release of supporters detained during bloody
demonstrations last March that saw nine people killed. Opposition
politician Levon Surabian announced at the unauthorised rally that the
protesters would begin a 28-day sit-down. "We cannot go home while our
friends are in prison," he declared.

Opponents say Sarkisian has refused all dialogue with the opposition
since his February 19 election in a contested vote.

Organisers of Friday’s protest said it attracted 30,000 demonstrators,
but police put the figure at 5,000. Surabian announced further
protests for the coming weeks to pressure Sarkisian.

According to local journalists, there had been a high number of
arrests during a 20-day state of emergency following the March
violence.

The small Caucasus state of 3.2 million has emerged as a strategically
important region, lying along gas routes from the energy-rich Caspian
Sea region to Europe and being a close partner of Iran.

Western powers fear instability in the region could disrupt gas routes
and further undermine a fragile security situation with Armenia’s
neighbours Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkey.