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Armenian gov't issues ultimatum amid escalating tensions with gunmen

Xinhua, July 31, 2016 Adjust font size:

Armenia's National Security Service on Sunday sent an ultimatum to the armed group who seized the police station in Yerevan on July 17, demanding them to lay down weapon and surrender to the police before 5:00 pm (GMT+4),July 30.

The National Security Service said that the special forces of law enforcement agencies are otherwise authorized to open fire with no warning and neutralize the gunmen inside the occupied patrol regiment.

"Following the incidents of late July 29, all the possibilities of reaching a peaceful settlement of the situation have been exhausted," the Service warned.

Armenian police exchanged gunfire with the armed pro-opposition group since Friday night, during which 3 members of the group were wounded and one police officer was killed, according to Ashot Aharonyan, police spokesperson.

Meanwhile, the police clashed with thousands of protesters supporting the gunmen when they tried to approach the police station seized by the gunmen. 165 people were reportedly detained and dozens were wounded.

The group, consisting of dozens of gunmen, stormed a police station in Khorenatsi Street inYerevan on July 17, during which one policeman was killed, while several others were wounded.

The gunmen took several hostages but released them over the weekend.

Currently, the gunmen remain in a standoff with police and they reportedly still took three medics as hostages. Enditem