International News

Protesters, police clash in Yerevan over hostage crisis

YEREVAN, (APP/AFP) – Police in the Armenian
capital Yerevan on Thursday arrested dozens of protesters following
a night of violent clashes over a four-day hostage standoff in which pro-opposition gunmen killed one officer and took several hostage.
At least 51 people, including 25 police were wounded Wednesday
night, Armenia’s health ministry said, after stone-throwing protesters attacked officers deployed outside a police building where the gunmen
— supporters of jailed opposition leader Zhirair Sefilyan — have
been holding four police officers hostage since Sunday morning.
Police hit back firing tear gas into the crowd, an AFP
reporter said.