EU mediator bound for Armenia

YEREVAN, Armenia, March 3 (UPI) -- European Union officials have announced a mediator will be sent to Armenia to help ease post-election tensions that have resulted in at least eight deaths.

Javier Solana, foreign police chief for the European Union, asked Peter Semneby, his special envoy for the South Caucasus, to visit the troubled nation after speaking Sunday with Armenian President Robert Kocharian, Deutsche Welle reported Monday.

The disputed Feb. 19 elections in Armenia led to an eruption of violence that has killed at least eight people.

An estimated 19,000 demonstrators protested alleged government interference in the outcome of the vote. Witnesses said police used truncheons and tear gas on the protesters, which were largely supporters of opposition presidential candidate Levon Ter-Petrosian, while firing their guns into the air. Dozens of the protesters were reported injured while police said 33 officers were injured during the conflict.

Kocharian, the outgoing president, has declared a 20-day state of emergency in the country.