8 Die in Armenia; US Urges Calm

Country declares emergency rule, kills 1 as rallies rage for 2nd week

(NEWSER) - Armenian cops fired on a crowd of protesters today and killed at least one as the country declared emergency rule, Reuters reports. Protests have raged daily since a Feb. 19 presidential election that opponents say was rigged for ex-premier Serzh Sarksyan. Police are holding opposition hopeful Levon Ter-Petrosian under house arrest and accuse the crowds of attempting a coup. More»

Candidates call for cancellation, cite 'massive fraud'

(NEWSER) - As protesters hit the streets, presidential candidates in Haiti banded together yesterday to demand the election be canceled, citing foul play, the Christian Science Monitor reports. Twelve of the 19 candidates are accusing the outgoing president’s party of “massive fraud.” Protesters—some peaceful, some throwing stones—marched after hundreds of voters said they were barred from voting at polling stations because their names weren’t on rolls. More»

Witness describe chaos at a protest near Tehran mosque

(AP) - Riot police clashed with up to 3,000 protesters near a mosque in north Tehran today, using tear gas and truncheons to break up Iran's first post-election demonstration in 5 days. Witnesses told the AP that some protesters fought back, chanting: "Where is my vote?" They said others described scenes of brutality—including the alleged police beating of an elderly woman—in the clashes around the Ghoba Mosque. More»

(NEWSER) - Iran's supreme leader addressed the nation on TV tonight to criticize anti-government protesters and appeal for calm, the Guardian reports. Those stirring up trouble are simply “tension seekers,” said Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Rival protests again filled the streets of Tehran, though no more deaths were reported. Khamenei has promised at least a partial recount, though he also referred to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as the “elected president.” More»

Leaders fear West will cut fuel imports

(NEWSER) - Angry Iranians torched Tehran gas stations yesterday and smashed windows as protests against gas rationing turned violent, the BBC reports. Motorists formed huge lines to fill tanks before new laws took effect limiting Iranians to 26 gallons of gas a month. Despite its oil reserves, Iran is short of refining capacity and must import 40% of its fuel. More»