DEMO UNDER WAY ON IN ARMENIAN CAPITAL DESPITE POLICE CRACKDOWN

ArmInfo News Agency (in Russian)
Aug 26 2008
Armenia

Yerevan, 25 August: Despite a morning incident when the police took
away placards from the opposition on a sit in protest on North Avenue,
the protest demonstration is still going on.

After 1900 [1400 gmt], a representative of the central office of the
Armenian National Congress, Levon Zurabyan, appealed to the opposition
activists. He called for calm. Zurabyan said that by taking away
and destroying the placards and "political prisoners" pictures,
the authorities showed their weakness and inability to carry out
political struggle by civilized methods.

"Most of all, the authorities want to provoke incidents to derail the
national rally slated for 5 September, which will trigger a new wave of
popular protests. In this situation we have to show calmness and not
engage [in quarrels] with the police. Let them continue their actions
and further discredit them," Zurabyan said. He said the opposition
leadership is discussing the situation and adequate countermeasures
will be found.