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Thousands protest in Armenia

An elderly Armenian man shouts during an opposition rally in Yerevan on Wednesday. PHOTO: EPA

Thousands of angry opposition supporters marched through Yerevan on Wednesday to protest the outcome of Armenia's presidential vote, which officials said was won by Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian.

The demonstrations raised concerns of instability in this volatile, strategic country at the juncture of the energy-rich Caspian Sea region and southern Europe.

However, with the West and key ally Russia signaling approval of election, it was unclear whether the opposition would muster enough support to mount a serious challenge and force a new vote -- or spark a mass uprising like those that occurred in other ex-Soviet republics.

Election officials said a final count showed Sarkisian with nearly 53 percent of the vote in Tuesday's election -- enough to win outright and avoid a runoff. His main opponent, Levon Ter-Petrosian, had 21.5 percent.

The observer mission from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said there were concerns about the vote count, but issued a generally positive assessment. And Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose country has close ties with Armenia, congratulated Sarkisian on his victory.

Ter-Petrosian's backers have alleged widespread fraud, and 20,000 protesters gathered in central Yerevan, then marched to the government headquarters, many shouting ``Levon!'' and raising clenched fists -- Ter-Petrosian's campaign symbol.

Helmeted police blocked the building, and protesters moved on to finish their rally at another square after darkness fell. Police watched calmly from sidewalks and no incidents were reported.

``I would like to assure you that no one will be able to stop us from making sure that the rule of law is observed,'' Ter-Petrosian told cheering supporters.

His senior aide Nikol Pashinian, called another protest for yesterday and warned supporters to dress warmly -- a sign that the opposition hoped for prolonged protests.

``They think we will shout a little and then go home, but this square must get filled with twice as many people as the votes that Serzh stole,'' Pashinian said.

The claims of vote-rigging and beatings of activists enraged many Armenians, but it was unclear how many people would turn up for further demonstrations on a working day and in freezing temperatures. Opposition efforts were also weakened by the lack of outside support and the favorable coverage Sarkisian receives in local media.

Yerevan was the scene of weeks long protests following outgoing President Robert Kocharian's re-election in 2003, which the opposition also called fraudulent.

The protests never gained momentum, however, like in neighboring Georgia or Ukraine, where demonstrations brought opposition leaders to power in what became known as the Rose and the Orange revolutions.

Sarkisian was groomed by Kocharian and was widely expected to win, in part because of favorable media coverage and support from the state bureaucracy. He has also benefited from economic improvements in recent years.

Sarkisian and Ter-Petrosian -- Armenia's first president after the 1991 Soviet collapse -- were the two top contenders vying to lead the South Caucasus nation, where more than a quarter of its 3.2 million people live in poverty despite some economic progress in recent years.
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