By RIA Novosti
Vienna : The OSCE chairman-in-office, Finnish Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva, has condemned the use of force against peaceful demonstrators in Yerevan earlier on Saturday.
Armenian riot police broke up a protest rally in the capital Yerevan by several thousand people protesting the results of the February 19 presidential election in the Caucasus republic.
“I urge the authorities to use maximum restraint. I am troubled that there are reports of casualties. I urge the authorities to release those detained, and I again call on the government and the opposition to engage in dialogue,” the minister said.
He said the OSCE was ready to continue helping the country as it attempts to consolidate its democracy and address shortcomings noted by OSCE and other observers during the presidential election process.
“The OSCE considers dialogue central to stability. At this important stage in Armenia’s development, everything should be done to avoid any escalation of tension,” Kanerva said.
Police used truncheons, tear gas and electric stun guns to disperse the crowd.
According to some reports, police have detained opposition presidential candidate Levon Ter-Petrosyan.
Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisyan won with 52.82% of the vote. His nearest rivals, Armenia’s first president Levon Ter-Petrosyan and ex-parliamentary speaker Artur Bagdasaryan received 21.5% and 17.7%, respectively. Six other candidates gained less than 10% of the votes.