Yerevan, 26 September 1996 (RFE/RL) - Tensions continue for a fifth day in Armenia following last Sunday's presidential elections.
Tanks and troops were deployed in the capital early today when parliament met in emergency session and voted to strip eight deputies, including opposition presidential candidate Vazgen Manukyan, of their immunity from prosecution.
Soon after, an RFE/RL correspondent in Yerevan reported seeing Manukyan in the custody of authorities. But an unnmamed Interior Ministry spokesman told Reuters News Agency only that Manukyan was being sought while six of the other deputies have been detained.
Today's events followed a demonstration at the parliament building last night in which the government says Manukyan's supporters beat the parliament chairman and his deputy. An aide to Ter-Petrosyan, Zhirair Liparitian, told reporters today that one demonstrator and one soldier had been killed in the clashes. Western news agencies report that at least 20 others were injured.
Before last night's demonstration, the country's Election Commission reported that Ter-Petrosyan had won Sunday's balloting with some 52 percent of the vote against some 41 percent for Manukyan. Four commission members dissented, supporting opposition claims of fraud.
Tanks and troops were deployed in the capital early today when parliament met in emergency session and voted to strip eight deputies, including opposition presidential candidate Vazgen Manukyan, of their immunity from prosecution.
Soon after, an RFE/RL correspondent in Yerevan reported seeing Manukyan in the custody of authorities. But an unnmamed Interior Ministry spokesman told Reuters News Agency only that Manukyan was being sought while six of the other deputies have been detained.
Today's events followed a demonstration at the parliament building last night in which the government says Manukyan's supporters beat the parliament chairman and his deputy. An aide to Ter-Petrosyan, Zhirair Liparitian, told reporters today that one demonstrator and one soldier had been killed in the clashes. Western news agencies report that at least 20 others were injured.
Before last night's demonstration, the country's Election Commission reported that Ter-Petrosyan had won Sunday's balloting with some 52 percent of the vote against some 41 percent for Manukyan. Four commission members dissented, supporting opposition claims of fraud.