Authorities make every effort to solve problem peacefully: PM

PanARMENIAN.Net - The situation is very alarming, and authorities do their utmost to find a peaceful solution to the situation, Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan said Thursday, July 21, as he commented on the violence near the seized police headquarters in Yerevan.

The armed group that seized a police HQ and took everyone inside hostage are members of the Sasna Tsrer movement. One police officer was killed, and three more were wounded in a shootout that broke as the members of the group hit the gates of the police department with a Ural track. Several captives have been set free so far. The hostages include Armenia's deputy police chief General Major Vardan Eghiazaryan and Yerevan deputy police chief Colonel Valeri Osipyan. The group demand the release of Jirair Sefilian, the founder of the Founding Parliament who was arrested on June 20, as he and a group of people had planned to seize premises and communication facilities, including the Yerevan TV tower.

The Prime Minister did not use the word terrorist to describe the armed people who are currenly holding the patrol department.

Police on Thursday dispersed protesters after detaining dozens of others following a night of violent clashes over the four-day hostage standoff.

At least 51 people, including 25 police were wounded Wednesday night, the health ministry said, after stone-throwing protesters attacked officers deployed outside the seized police building.

Police in turn, fired tear gas into the crowd.