Armenian protesters to renew efforts to stop capital traffic

YEREVAN, Armenia – The leader of large protests that have roiled the capital of Armenia for a week is calling on supporters to renew efforts to paralyze traffic.

The protests, which began last Friday, are against former President Serzh Sargsyan’s assumption of the prime minister’s post. The move came as Armenia changed its government structure to reduce the power of the president and give more authority to the premier.

Opponents claim the change allows Sargsyan to continue as the country’s leader even though he had to step down from the presidency because of term limits.

Some earlier protest gatherings shut down traffic in the centre of Yerevan. Protest leader Nikolai Pashinian on Thursday night told a rally of 10,000 people on central Republic Square that actions to halt traffic would begin Friday morning.