(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-02 09:04

MOSCOW -- Armenian President Robert Kocharian on Saturday introduced a state of emergency in the country's capital of Yerevan, Russian news agencies reported.

The state of emergency will remain in effect for 20 days while the police have started cracking down on street protests.

Opposition supporters have been rallying in Yerevan to protest the Feb. 19 presidential election, which Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan won with 52.8 percent of the vote.

The opposition led by Ter-Petrosyan, who got 21.5 percent of the vote, claimed the vote was rigged and demanded a repeat vote.

In the afternoon, protesters smashed windows of the Mayor's Office and confronted with the police, Itar-Tass reported.

The state of emergency bans rallies and strikes.

Political parties and non-governmental organizations are prohibited from engaging in any activities that are considered to be potential obstacles to surmounting the crisis during the period.

The media are permitted to publish only official information on the current situation and dissemination of leaflets and all other forms of political propaganda are also banned, Interfax said.