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WORLD NEWS Thursday 3 May 2018

Armenian protest leader urges halt in demonstrations

By AVET DEMOURIAN and the job to protest leader president for 10 years, but
DAVID KEYTON Nikol Pashinian, just one stepped down because
YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) — day after parliament re- of term limits. Soon there-
The opposition lawmaker jected him. after, parliament named
who has led weeks of mass Pashinian told a Wednes- him prime minister under a
demonstrations in Armenia day evening rally that his new government structure
called Wednesday for the Elk party and the two other that gave the post greater
protests to take a break opposition factions would powers. Protesters said the
after a surprising move by nominate him on Thursday. move effectively allowed
the ruling party appeared Together, those parties him to remain as leader in-
to clear the way for him to hold 47 seats — well over definitely. After he lost the
become prime minister. the one-third mark set by vote in parliament, Pashin-
On a fast-moving day of the Republicans, who will ian called for Wednesday's
turmoil that began with not nominate a candidate nationwide strike.
crowds blocking roads, of their own. Earlier in the day, Pashinian
railways and the airport in "Armenia will have a prime Opposition lawmaker Nikol Pashinian gestures as he addresses warned the government
the capital of Yerevan, the minister on May 8," Republi- his supporters in Republic Square in Yerevan on Wednesday, not to bring troops to the
head of the ruling Republi- can faction leader Vagram May 2, 2018. capital to quell the dem-
can Party's faction in par- Bagdasarian said. Associated Press onstrations. “Police and se-
liament said it would vote In turn, Pashinian called for curity services are neutral,
May 8 for any prime minis- supporters not to protest on in Tuesday's parliament and leading to the resigna- and if they (government)
ter candidate nominated Thursday, saying: "Tomor- vote for prime minister, but tion of Prime Minister Serzh will bring for example the
by a third of the body's 105 row, we will work in parlia- lost 45-55. The protests be- Sargsyan just days after army to Yerevan, all soldiers
members. ment." Pashinian was the gan April 13, plunging Ar- his appointment. Sargsy- will come to us and they will
That effectively promised only candidate nominated menia into political turmoil an had led the country as join us.q

Amid protests, Greece vows

to reduce migrants on islands

By DEREK GATOPOULOS The promised changes More than a dozen were
Associated Press came despite a recent injured when migrants were
LESBOS, Greece (AP) — spike in daily arrivals at the attacked with flares and
Greek officials on Wednes- islands and at Greece's burning trash bins during
day vowed to reduce land border with Turkey. an anti-migrant protest or-
severe overcrowding at mi- Prime Minister Alexis Tsip- ganized in part by far-right
grant camps on Greece's ras is due to visit Lesbos on groups on the island 10
islands, amid mounting pro- Thursday, and islanders are days ago.
tests that the immigration planning street protests On Wednesday, Vitsas held Children play inside the Moria refugee camp on the northeast-
crisis has hurt the vital local and a strike by businesses in a town hall meeting and ern Aegean island of Lesbos, Greece, Wednesday, May 2, 2018.
tourism industry for a fourth the main port. As scores of spent several hours talking Associated Press
successive summer. police officers took up po- with Lesbos residents. Many
Migration Minister Dimitris sitions in the port Wednes- angrily voiced their com- eral hundred additional Greek mainland.
Vitsas, who was visiting the day, protest organizers plaints and accused the staff would be hired over Several mainland migrant
island of Lesbos, said the uses a van fitted with loud- government of abandon- the summer to help clear camps had reopened as
government aimed to cut speakers to urge local resi- ing the island. a huge backlog of asy- part of the summer plan,
the number of migrants dents to join the strike. "I cannot say when every- lum claims. He added the Vitsas said. Many of the
on five large Greek islands The overcrowding has trig- thing will happen but we government also planned planned changes are in-
from the current level of gered frequent flare-ups will move forward," he said. to streamline the asylum cluded in draft legislation
15,500 to 6,500 — equiva- of violence at the sprawl- "We are dragging out feet process and medical as- currently being debated
lent to the capacity of refu- ing Moria refugee camp forward but hopefully that sessments required for in parliament and due to
gee shelter facilities — by on Lesbos, where many still will improve." some asylum seekers to be put to the vote in mid-
the end of September. live in squalid conditions. He promised that sev- be allowed to travel to the May.q