With All Eyes on Middle East, Armenian Unrest Spreads

In addition to spreading across the region, the Arab uprisings are inspiring peaceful demonstrations away from the Middle East -- perhaps most notably, albeit with little international news coverage, in the former Soviet bloc country of Armenia.

More than 10,000 anti-government protesters rallied last week in the capital, Yerevan, where according to the Associated Press, opposition leader and former President Levon Ter-Petrosian claimed the demonstration was inspired by the revolts in the Arab world.

Outcry has mounted since Serzh Sargsyan, a former prime minister, became the nation's third president in a disputed 2008 election, the immediate aftermath of which was marred by a violent crackdown on the opposition. Demonstrations have grown recently, since a March 1 rally marked the three-year anniversary of the crackdown.

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