About 73 people injured in Armenia clashes

More than 70 people were injured in new clashes between Armenian police and supporters of gunmen who have been barricaded in a police station in the capital Yerevan for the past two weeks, the ministry of healthcare says.

Several hundred demonstrators gathered in front of the Erebuni police facility on Friday evening to voice solidarity with the 24 pro-opposition gunmen.

The demonstration turned violent when police attempted to disperse the large crowd and quell the unrest, using truncheons, stun grenades and smoke bombs. The clashes continued into the night and the early hours of Saturday.

According to the Armenian Healthcare Ministry, 73 people were injured, 26 of whom, including six police officers, remained hospitalized Saturday.

Police said 165 protesters were detained during the unrest.

Three of the gunmen were injured in the exchange of fire with police on Friday. Two of them were taken to the hospital under armed guard.

On July 25, thousands of people held a similar protest in the capital to voice solidarity with the pro-opposition gunmen.

SS