PROTESTERS REFUSE TO BUDGE IN ARMENIA

>> YEREVAN: Armenia’s political crisis deepened yesterday as protest leader Nikol Pashinyan said he was only prepared to discuss the exit of the country’s newly elected prime minister, former president Serzh Sarkisian.

“We are only ready to discuss the conditions of his departure,” news agencies quoted Mr Pashinyan as saying after Mr Sarkisian called on the opposition to enter into talks.

“This won’t be a dialogue, as I already said, we do not want vendetta and we wish to secure the transfer of power to the people while avoiding shock as much as possible,” Mr Pashinyan was quoted as saying.

The opposition lawmaker has led protests against Mr Sarkisian’s rule since April 13. Earlier yesterday, Mr Sarkisian sought a “political dialogue” with the leader.

“I am deeply concerned about the unfolding internal political events. In order to avoid irreversible consequences, I call on deputy Nikol Pashinyan to sit at the table of political dialogue and negotiation,” the 63-year-old leader said in a statement.

Opposition supporters denounce Mr Sarkisian’s efforts to remain in power as prime minister after a decade serving as president.

At a 30,000 strong rally in Yerevan on Friday evening, Mr Pashinyan laid out his demands for the authorities.

“First, Sarkisian resigns. Second, parliament elects a new prime minister that represents the people. Third, it forms a temporary government. Fourth, they schedule parliamentary elections. We will enter negotiations around these demands,” he said, calling Mr Sarkisian a “political corpse”.

“The whole world can see this is a people’s velvet revolution, which very soon will be victorious,” Mr Pashinyan said.

Demonstrators waved national flags and held up placards reading “Sarkisian is a dictator” as protests in the impoverished former Soviet country continued.

A journalist reported that opposition supporters began blocking roads yesterday morning ahead of planned rallies in several districts of Yerevan. Protesters have been attempting to block daytime road traffic for the past week ahead of planned evening rallies.

“I believe we will win this time because when the youth is on the street, the police can do nothing,” said Hovik Haranyan, said a 25-year-old protester blocking traffic. “Our generation has the right to live in a functioning country”.