Paris hosts dueling rallies between leading presidential candidatesApril 15, 2012 - 18:04 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - France's two leading presidential candidates are holding dueling rallies in the capital a week before the country heads into the voting booth, The Associated Press reported. Polls show conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy and his Socialist challenger, Francois Hollande, are neck-in-neck for the first round on April 22. Most polls have Hollande ahead in May 6 decisive runoff. Tens of thousands of supporters gathered at opposite ends of Paris, with those for Sarkozy at the iconic Place de la Concorde in Paris' posh west side. Hollande's followers rallied in the Bois de Vincennes, just outside the city's more working-class east. Both candidates have been encouraging voters not to wait for round two to come out in support of them, and are using Sunday April 15 rallies to build momentum. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Armenian, Iranian foreigh policy chief talk over the phone The Foreign Minister of Armenia once again expressed condolences to his counterpart on the death of the President of Iran. Armenia, U.S. customs authorities to boost assistance with new deal The government has approved an agreement with the U.S. government on mutual assistance between the customs authorities. Armenian government besieged by protesters Protesters led by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan poured into Yerevan’s Republic Square to try to surround the seat of Armenia’s government. Armenia, Russia agree on repairing railway destroyed in floods Yerevan and Moscow have agreed to repair a flood-stricken railway in northern Armenia. |