Washington calls on Yerevan and opposition to show restraint

The US embassy in Armenia has called on the parties to the political crisis in Armenia to show restraint.

"We urge the government to show restraint to allow for peaceful protest and we urge those exercising their freedom of assembly to do so responsibly, to avoid violence, and to prevent an escalation of tensions," the embassy said in a statement yesterday.

"We are concerned over reports of violence against journalists and demonstrators; we emphasize the need for those responsible for violence against police or demonstrators to be held accountable under the law," TASS cited the embassy as saying.

"A peaceful resolution requires meaningful political dialogue in good faith," the embassy stressed and called on "police and protesters to adhere to peaceful, legal means for freedom of assembly as provided for by the Armenian constitution."

Mass rallies began in Yerevan and other cities of Armenia on April 16 protesting against the nomination of former president Serzh Sargsyan’s candidacy for prime minister. On April 17, Sargsyan was elected prime minister.