ARMENIAN OPPOSITION RESOLUTE TO STAGE RALLY AMID TIGHT CONTROL

Interfax news agency Russia
July 4 2008

Yerevan, 4 July: The central part of the Armenian capital is tightly
protected by the police due to the opposition’s plan to stage an
unauthorized rally, Interfax news agency has reported.

A venue where the rally is planned to take place has been fenced by
police forces since Friday morning.

A source in the law-enforcement bodies of Armenia has told Interfax
that roads leading to capital Yerevan from Armenia’s districts are
partly blocked. "Means of transports carrying more than four persons
are not allowed [to Yerevan] and the same limits are applied to
intercity public transport as well," the source has said.

Armenia’s opposition intends to stage next rally on Friday [4 July]
evening. The city mayor’s office did not authorize the rally in the
centre of Yerevan offering the opposition to rally on the territories
near Razdan and Dinamo stadiums. However, the opposition was not
satisfied with the offer.

On June 20, the opposition staged its first rally in the centre
of the city after 1 March tragic events. The authorities did not
authorize that rally either, however, they compromised as a result
of negotiations and the opposition staged its rally near Metandaran
museum – institution of ancient manuscripts.