April 12, 2004 - 18:25 AMT
UNITED ARMENIAN OPPOSITION GOING TO ORGANIZE MASS PROTEST MEETING AND MARCH TO PRESIDENTIAL PALACE
Today at 4 p.m. local time the united Armenian opposition intends to organize a mass protest meeting at the Liberty Square after which the demonstrators are to march towards the presidential palace. According to the opposition leaders, the rally participants are going to undertake concrete measures "to restore legal power in Armenia". At present a protest action of people, who are sitting in the square and demanding the resignation of the incumbent leadership, is still continuing. Police and highway patrols are watching the developments on the square. Buses with policemen and water jets gathered at the presidential palace. To remind, the term of the ultimatum delivered by the opposition to the state authorities is to expire in several hours. Justice and National Unity factions are demanding the parliament to ratify amendments to the bill "On Referendum", according to which the opposition intends to hold a vote of confidence in President Robert Kocharian. His political rivals state as invalid the outcomes of the last year's presidential election won by Kocharian.