Armenian authorities arrests 70, including 2 suspected attackers, as protests continue

Armenian policemen detain an opposition supporter during a rally in central Yerevan on April 21, 2018, held to protest former president Serzh Sargsyan's election as prime minister that saw dozens of people arrested. (AFP photo)

Armenian authorities have announced that at least 70 people have been arrested in ongoing protests caused by the election of a former president into the office of prime minister.

The national security service said Saturday that two of those arrested had been suspected of planning bomb attacks in crowded public places. The arrests came a day after more than 230 were detained in large protests in Yerevan and elsewhere.

Thousands demonstrated in the capital on Saturday to press with their demands for the resignation of Serzh Sargsyan as Armenia’s new prime minister. Sargsyan was elected as premier last week in what many see as an attempt to make the former president Armenia's leader for life. He would have extended powers in the new post based on changes approved to the constitution three years ago.

Some estimated that around 30,000 people demonstrated in the capital on Saturday, a high since protests erupted on April 13. Police had detained 11 people as of morning local time while protesters said they would defy police bans and block the main roads to prepare the situation for big rallies later in the day. Similar protests have been planned in other cities, including in Gyumri, Ararat and Artashat.

Armenian opposition supporters ride atop a car during a demonstration against the former president's election as prime minister that saw dozens of people arrested, April 20, 2018, Yerevan. (AFP photo)

In Yerevan's Republic Square, President Armen Sarkissian met protest leader Nikol Pashinyan as thousands demonstrated against the newly elected prime minister.

Earlier on Saturday, Pashinyan rejected Sargsyan’s offer for dialogue, saying talks would only be possible on his departure from power.

“We are only ready to discuss the conditions of his departure,” Pashinyan said, adding, “This won't be a dialogue, as I already said, we do not want vendetta and we wish to secure the transfer of power to the people while avoiding shock as much as possible.”

Pashinyan earlier laid out main conditions for talks that could resolve the widening political dispute. He called Sargsyan, 63, who has served a decade as president, a “political corpse”.

“First, Sargsyan resigns. Second, parliament elects a new prime minister that represents the people. Third, it forms a temporary government. Fourth, they schedule parliamentary elections. We will enter negotiations around these demands,” Pashinyan told a rally of his supporters on Friday.

The opposition leader vowed that continued protests will finally force Sargsyan out of office.

“The whole world can see this is a people's velvet revolution, which very soon will be victorious,” he said.