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Armenian leader says government to maintain stability

Armenian President Robert Kocharian accused the opposition of trying to seize power on Saturday as tens of thousands protested for a fourth day demanding a presidential election be overturned.

Some 50,000 supporters of opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosian gathered in the central Freedom Square, waving Armen-ian flags and chanting "Levon" and "Fight to the End."

It was the fourth day of protests against the results of last Tuesday's presidential poll, officially won by Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian.

The protests have been peaceful, but Kocharian warned the government was prepared to take action.

"I view these actions as an attempt to seize power," Kocharian told a meeting of senior army and police officials, a statement said.

"No organization can put itself above the law and Constitution and practice illegal activities," he said. "Our actions will be decisive and firm to maintain stability and the constitutional order of the country."

Several thousand demonstrators marched on Saturday on the headquarters of national public radio to protest what they allege has been a lack of coverage of their campaign.

"They are not reporting anything that is happening in our country," said Lyudmila Sarkisian, who led the march and read out a letter of protest in front of the radio headquarters, which was surrounded by police.

Activists have set up about two dozen tents in the square and several hundred have camped out overnight, huddling around campfires to keep warm in sub-zero temperatures. Many of the most committed activists are unemployed men hoping that a change in government would mean new jobs.

Official results from the election gave 52.9 percent of the vote to Sarkisian, hand-picked to succeed Kocharian, who is obliged to step down after his second term.

Ter-Petrosian, who trailed with 21.5 percent, has demanded a rerun of the "shameful" election, alleging widespread irregularities in the poll.

Observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe described the election as "mostly" in line with international standards.
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