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Prescott leads Armenia peace trip | Prescott leads Armenia peace trip |
(about 14 hours later) | |
Ex-deputy prime minister John Prescott is heading a diplomatic mission aimed at defusing Armenia's political crisis. | Ex-deputy prime minister John Prescott is heading a diplomatic mission aimed at defusing Armenia's political crisis. |
A state of emergency has been in force in the capital, Yerevan, since 1 March, after violence erupted amid allegations of vote-rigging in recent elections. | A state of emergency has been in force in the capital, Yerevan, since 1 March, after violence erupted amid allegations of vote-rigging in recent elections. |
Mr Prescott is visiting as a member of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly, which he joined in October. | Mr Prescott is visiting as a member of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly, which he joined in October. |
He will meet outgoing president Robert Kocharian and president-elect Serzh Sarkisian during his two-day trip. | He will meet outgoing president Robert Kocharian and president-elect Serzh Sarkisian during his two-day trip. |
The crisis followed recent presidential elections, in which the prime minister, Mr Sarkisian, officially beat the main opposition leader, Levon Ter-Petrosian, by a wide margin. | |
Mr Ter-Petrosian, a former president, claims the election was rigged. | |
At the time of the elections on 19 February, John Prescott headed a similar delegation which travelled around Armenia, observing the poll. | At the time of the elections on 19 February, John Prescott headed a similar delegation which travelled around Armenia, observing the poll. |
They judged the election to have been generally democratic, but said there had been some problems with the counting of votes. | They judged the election to have been generally democratic, but said there had been some problems with the counting of votes. |
Official election results in Armenia gave Serzh Sarkisian 53% of the vote, and Levon Ter-Petrosian 21.5%. | Official election results in Armenia gave Serzh Sarkisian 53% of the vote, and Levon Ter-Petrosian 21.5%. |
A state of emergency was imposed as violence flared in Yerevan | A state of emergency was imposed as violence flared in Yerevan |
The Council of Europe has sent Mr Prescott back to Armenia on what it calls a "snap visit", concerned by the violence and the imposition of the state of emergency. | The Council of Europe has sent Mr Prescott back to Armenia on what it calls a "snap visit", concerned by the violence and the imposition of the state of emergency. |
The aim is to "assess the post-electoral situation... and explore possibilities for defusing the current political crisis and promoting dialogue", the Council said in a statement. | The aim is to "assess the post-electoral situation... and explore possibilities for defusing the current political crisis and promoting dialogue", the Council said in a statement. |
Mr Prescott will also meet defeated candidate Levon Ter-Petrosian. | Mr Prescott will also meet defeated candidate Levon Ter-Petrosian. |
Opposition anger | Opposition anger |
The crisis in Armenia began when opposition demonstrators responded to electoral defeat with 11 days of mass demonstrations in the capital, setting up barricades in Yerevan's city centre. | The crisis in Armenia began when opposition demonstrators responded to electoral defeat with 11 days of mass demonstrations in the capital, setting up barricades in Yerevan's city centre. |
The government declared the protests were illegal, and on 1 March police fought pitched battles with demonstrators on the streets. | The government declared the protests were illegal, and on 1 March police fought pitched battles with demonstrators on the streets. |
Police clashed with protesters in Yerevan on 1 March | Police clashed with protesters in Yerevan on 1 March |
Eight people who had been demonstrating in support of the defeated opposition candidate, Levon Ter-Petrosian, were killed. About 100 others were injured in the violence. | Eight people who had been demonstrating in support of the defeated opposition candidate, Levon Ter-Petrosian, were killed. About 100 others were injured in the violence. |
Mr Ter-Petrosian was placed under house arrest, but has been allowed out to attend proceedings at the Constitutional Court to challenge the election results. | Mr Ter-Petrosian was placed under house arrest, but has been allowed out to attend proceedings at the Constitutional Court to challenge the election results. |
Mr Prescott joined the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe last October, as leader of the UK contingent of 18 Westminster MPs. | Mr Prescott joined the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe last October, as leader of the UK contingent of 18 Westminster MPs. |
The Council of Europe is a body founded in 1949 to promote democratic ideals and human rights in Europe, and is not part of the apparatus of the European Union. | The Council of Europe is a body founded in 1949 to promote democratic ideals and human rights in Europe, and is not part of the apparatus of the European Union. |
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