8 dead in Yerevan night riot

PanARMENIAN.Net - According to the RA Public Health, 8 people were killed in yesterday's night melee in Yerevan.



33 policemen (11 with fragmentation wounds, 13 with bodily injuries, 8 poisoned with gas and 1 unconscious) were taken to hospital.



On March 1, some protesters, cutting off the crowd, set fire to 20 cars, destroyed trolleybuses and buses. The House of Moscow, supermarkets and offices, smashed windows of VivaCell head premises. Groups of drunken people assaulted law enforcers.



The Police are after those privy to incitement of mass disorders.



The Police call for restraint and obedience to the emergency rule and help the law enforcers to clear away the consequences of the disorders.



Yesterday morning the police dispersed the opposition rally held in support of Armenia's first President Levon Ter-Petrosyan. In the afternoon the demonstrators took the streets toward the French Embassy basing near the Yerevan mayor's office. The protest action resulted in clashes with police. Numerous shops were looted.



On March 1 evening President Robert Kocharian declared state of emergency for 20 days.