Armenian PM Sarkisian resigns after protests

YEREVAN, Apr 23 (Agencies): Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan has resigned after days of large-scale street protests against him.

Opposition supporters accused Mr Sargsyan of clinging to power when he was appointed prime minister last Tuesday, soon after finishing two five-year terms as president.

"The street movement is against my tenure. I am fulfilling your demand," he said in a statement.

It was not clear when his resignation would take effect.

The announcement came soon after opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan was released from detention. Mr Pashinyan had been arrested on Sunday after televised talks with Mr Sargsyan collapsed. As well as Mr Pashinyan, two other opposition politicians and some 200 demonstrators were held.

In his statement published on his website, Mr Sargsyan said he was "addressing all citizens of the Republic of Armenia... for the last time as leader of the country."

"Nikol Pashinyan was right. I was wrong," he said. "The situation has several solutions, but I will not take any of them... I am leaving office of the country's leader, of prime minister."

Protesters chanted "Nikol, Nikol" in the streets on Monday and waved Armenian flags. They were joined by hundreds of uniformed soldiers, despite warnings from the defence ministry that any soldiers protesting would be harshly punished.

Armenia's leader Serzh Sarkisian, who was last week elected prime minister triggering major protests, resigned on Monday, his office said.

"I've made a mistake... I am leaving the post of the country's leader," Sarkisian was quoted as saying in a statement by his press service, Armenia's state news agency Armenpress reported.

"I am leaving the post of the country's leader," Sarkisian was quoted as saying in a statement by his press service, just days after he took office.

"Nikol Pashinyan was right," he said referring to the leader of the protests. "I was wrong."