Scores of injuries were reported late on Wednesday when a rally near the seized police building in Yerevan led to clashes with law enforcement officers.

"Today 136 people were taken to the police station," the police press service said in a statement.

Protesters threw rocks and pieces of heavy debris at police, who responded with warning shots and flash-bang grenades.

The Armenian Health Ministry said 51 people, including 28 police officers, have been injured. The country's human rights commissioner said journalists were among those injured.

On July 17, an armed group took several police officers hostage at a patrol police station in Yerevan’s district of Erebuni. The hostage takers are demanding the release of Jirair Sefilian, an opposition politician and the founder of the New Armenia Public Salvation Front. Sefilian, who took part in the 1988-1994 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Azerbaijan, is accused of the illegal acquisition and possession of arms, Sputnik reported.

212-11