Armenians march against president

By Chloe Arnold
BBC News

Opponents dispute Mr Kocharyan's election win

Opposition supporters in Armenia have stepped up their demands for President Robert Kocharyan to resign.

Thousands of people staged a march on the presidential administration in the capital, Yerevan.

Police used razor wire and road blocks to halt the protesters a few hundred metres from the building.

The demonstration marked the start of a second week of protests by opponents who blame Mr Kocharyan for poverty and unemployment in the ex-Soviet republic.

Several thousand demonstrators marched along Bagramyan Avenue, one of Yerevan's main thoroughfares, determined to reach the presidential administration and the residence of the Armenian leader.

They were stopped by police who used barbed-wire cordons to hold them back.

Revolution hopes

The crisis in Armenia was sparked by last year's presidential election which opposition groups claim was rigged in Mr Kocharyan's favour.

Western observers said the vote had fallen well short of international standards.

Armenia's opposition is hoping for an uprising similar to the so-called Rose Revolution in neighbouring Georgia.

Last November thousands of Georgians marched on the home of their President Eduard Shevardnadze, forcing him to resign in the wake of a disputed parliamentary election.

Armenia's opposition has vowed to continue their protests until Mr Kocharyan steps down.