Dozens hurt, many arrested in Armenia clashes

 Armenian police detain opposition supporters blocking a street

leading to Erebuni police station seized by gunmen -

supporters of fringe jailed opposition leader Zhirair Sefilyan - in

Yerevan late on July 29, 2016. Armenian police exchanged

gunfire with an armed pro-opposition group holding hostages

for a twelfth day and clashed with thousands of protesters

supporting the gunmen. Several protestors were hurt in the

skirmishes near the police building where hostages have been

held since July 17. KAREN MINASYAN / AFP

Armenian opposition supporters shout and gesture in front of

riot police blocking the streets to Erebuni police station seized

by gunmen - supporters of fringe jailed opposition leader

Zhirair Sefilyan - in Yerevan early on July 28, 2016. KAREN

MINASYAN / AFP

Dozens of people have been hospitalised and 26 arrested

following clashes between police and protesters in Yerevan,

Armenian authorities said Saturday.

Sixty people were taken to various hospitals around the capital

to be treated for injuries including burns and broken limbs, the

health ministry said.

The clashes, which began Friday evening near a police building

where an armed pro-opposition group has been holed up for

almost two weeks with several hostages, continued into the

night.

There were also gun battles between police and this group on

Friday.

Using truncheons, stun grenades and smoke bombs, police

broke up a rally held in support of the gunmen, who are

holding three medics.

Armenian police told AFP that 165 people were detained during

the unrest, of whom 26 were later arrested. The rest were

released.

The gunmen — supporters of fringe jailed opposition leader

Zhirair Sefilyan — stormed the police building on July 17, killing

one officer, taking several more hostage and seizing a store of

weapons.

They have since released all the police but on Wednesday

began holding four medical staff who had entered the

compound to treat some of their wounds.

One of the medics has since been released, while 24 gunmen

are still inside.

Three of the gunmen were wounded in Friday’s exchange of

gunfire with police, with two taken to hospital under armed

guard.