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1st LD: Armenian prime minister resigns

Xinhua, September 8, 2016 Adjust font size:

Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan announced his resignation Thursday, the Armenpress news agency reported.

Abrahamyan said during a government meeting that his departure would enable President Serzh Sarksyan to form a new government.

Abrahamyan had to quit as the country is facing sluggish economic growth and rising violence.

Some 30 percent of Armenia's population lives below the official poverty line, according to the Asian Development Bank.

To make matters worse, Armenian government's failure to quickly solve a hostage crisis sparked anti-government demonstrations this summer and the public's growing discontent with the government.

Abrahamyan started his political career in 1995 when he was elected as a member of the National Assembly. After several high-level positions in government and chairman of the National Assembly, he became prime minister in April 2014. Endi