Yerevan (Armenia): Several thousand protesters demonstrated near the Armenian presidential palace today after Serge Sarkisian was sworn in for a second term.
Sarkisian easily won February`s election with nearly 59 per cent of the vote. But American-born runner-up Raffi Hovanessian, who won 37 per cent of the vote, has called the election rigged, went on a hunger strike, and led protests calling for Sarkisian to step down.
About 3,000 demonstrators gathered in the evening on the avenue leading to the presidential residence, but were blocked by a police cordon. Sporadic small clashes occurred and police told demonstrators to disperse.
There were no reports of serious injury, but a top official of Hovanessian`s party, Armen Martirosian, was seen being taken away with a bleeding nose. It was not clear how the injury occurred.
The crowd later dwindled to about 500 people, while others moved from the presidential palace area to a large square a few hundred metres away
PTI
