Armenia in fresh crisis as PM sacks six ministers

YEREVAN, Oct 03 (AFP): Armenia faced a fresh crisis on Wednesday as reformist Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan fired six ministers after lawmakers blocked his demand for snap parliamentary elections.

Those sacked include ministers in charge of energy, economic development, agriculture and transport.

Pashinyan came to power in the impoverished ex-Soviet country in May after leading mass anti-government protests, which ousted veteran leader Serzh Sarkisian.

But he has been at loggerheads with Sarkisian's Republican Party, which still controls parliament and has stood in the way of his reforming drive.

Wednesday's sackings came a day after MPs passed a bill making it harder to disband parliament and hold snap elections.

The passing of the bill triggered new street protests by Pashinyan's supporters on Tuesday evening, with the prime minister saying he would resign within days.