'I got it wrong': Armenia prime minister to resign
Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sarksyan said in a statement on Monday he will resign from his post. His resignation comes after more than a week of heavy protests in the country, after Armenia's parliament voted to allow Sargsyan, who has been president for the past decade, to become prime minister.
Sarksyan, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, said: "[Opposition leader] Nikol Pashinayn was right. I got it wrong. In the current situation there are several solutions, but I won't choose any of them. It's not my style. I am quitting the country's leadership and the post of prime minister of Armenia."
"The struggle in the streets is against my tenure. I'm fulfilling your demand. I wish peace, harmony and reason to our country."
The announcement followed news that Armenian opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan has been freed by police, some 24 hours after his detention amid a tumultuous day of anti-government demonstrations .
The organiser of 10 days of recent protests was detained on Sunday along with two other opposition leaders and at least 200 demonstrators. Pashinyan was grabbed by security forces from a protest in Yerevan and his subsequent whereabouts were unknown.
Supporters have been celebrating his release in the streets, as anti-government protests continue.
Demonstrators are demanding that newly appointed Prime Minister Serzh Sarksyan quit.