In Armenia the protest rally against the results of the presidential election promises to enter a second day. Thousands have been out on the streets of the capital, Yerevan, protesting against what they claim is fraud.
Supporters of the defeated candidate, the former president Levon Ter-Petrosayn say the election was rigged in favour of the Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisyan. The Central Election Committee declared Sarkisyan the winner with more than half of the vote, which is more than twice that of his nearest rival, Ter-Petrosyan. International observers say the poll was fair and “mostly in line” with democratic election standards. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Sarkisyan on his victory.