Armenian president urges gunmen to lay down arms

Armenia's President Serzh Sargsyan urged Friday the gunmen who seized a local police station in capital Yerevan earlier this week to disarm and end the standoff peacefully, according to the press office of the Armenian presidency.

"Problems will not be solved in Armenia through violence and hostage-taking," said Sargsyan at a meeting with the country's law-enforcement officials, adding that the armed group must lay down their weapons.

He also said all possible measures must be taken to calm the situation and a comprehensive investigation will be carried out to safeguard the rule of law in the country.

The president told the police and other law enforcement agencies to continue to show utmost restraint to avoid further bloodshed.

A group of gunmen stormed the headquarters of a police station in Khorenatsi street in Yerevan on Sunday, during which one policeman is known to have been killed and several others were wounded.

The attackers held a number of police officers hostages, including the deputy police chief of Armenia, and demanded the release of their leader, Jirair Sefilyan, who was arrested in June on suspicion of an attempt to topple the government and to push for President Sargsyan's resignation.

On Wednesday, a rally closed to the seized police building led to clashes with police.

Protesters were reported to have thrown rocks at the law enforcement officers. The police used tear gas to disperse the crowds.

According to local reports, at least 51 people were wounded in the clashes. Endi