YEREVAN, March 2: Tanks and troops patrolled the Armenian capital Yerevan on Sunday after eight people were killed and dozens injured during violent protests against the result of a presidential election.

Authorities imposed a state of emergency in Yerevan late on Saturday following violent clashes between riot police and protesters.

Army chief of staff Seiran Oganian warned in televised comments that fresh protests would be met with “a severe response.”

The United States meanwhile urged calm and Europe’s top security watchdog sent an envoy to promote talks.

A dozen armoured personnel carriers and about 100 soldiers stood guard outside the main government building and foreign ministry. Several tanks could be seen at the scene of the night-time clashes.

A spokeswoman for the foreign ministry said seven civilians and one police officer had been killed. One police officer was in critical condition and 17 had been hospitalised with gunshot wounds, she said.

The health ministry said on Sunday that 72 police and 59 civilians had been injured in the unrest.

“The police are calling on all citizens to be careful, to hold back and to obey all the rules of the state of emergency,” a police statement read.

The US State Department called in a statement for all sides “to avoid further violence, act fully within the law, exercise maximum restraint, and resume political dialogue.”—AFP