YEREVAN, Armenia — Armenia’s president imposed a state of emergency Saturday after police used tear gas and fired shots into the air to disperse demonstrators protesting alleged fraud in last month’s presidential election.
The announcement from the office of President Robert Kocharian came shortly after police broke up the rally of about 15,000 demonstrators. Earlier, police used batons to remove hundreds of protesters who had camped for more than a week in tents in a square near the city mayor’s office.
Tensions remained high into the night. Groups of young people were prowling the streets of the capital, calling for others to join them, city residents told The Associated Press. An AP reporter saw cars overturned, and the police department said some of its cars had been set on fire. Looters hit stores and kiosks, police said.
“What’s going on now is not a political process. It has gone over the edge,” Kocharian said in a late-night news conference. “I appeal to the people of Armenia to show restraint and understanding.”
Kocharian’s office said the state of emergency would remain in effect for 20 days.
Officials say Prime Minister Serge Sarkisian won the Feb. 19 vote outright. But supporters of opposition candidate Levon Ter-Petrosian have rejected the results, alleging fraud. Sarkisian is a close colleague of Kocharian, who is stepping down because the constitution does not permit him to seek a third term.
