8 dead in Armenian election riots
Published: 02 March, 2008, 16:10
Feelings in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, remain high after eight people died on Saturday night during violent protests against an election result. A 20-day state of emergency is in force and the city centre is now largely deserted. Thousands of soldiers
It's unclear if the victims of the violence were police or protestors.
A group of Georgian journalists told RT they literally have to run from the police in order to keep their cameras with them.
In the streets there are debris and burnt cars left from the rioting. And with another opposition protest planned today the atmosphere is as tense as possible.
The authorities appear to be nervous. All media have been closed and it’s very difficult to get any information.
Earlier in the day Seyran Oganyan, a Chief of staff of the Armenian Armed Forces addressed the nation with a call to observe the state of emergency.
“I discourage everyone to bypass the restrictions imposed by the state of emergency. Please be disciplined and comply with steps the army is taking to implement the state of emergency. Particularly I would ask people to refrain from gathering in Yerevan,” Oganyan said.
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