Armenian politician accuses rival of kidnapping

Text of report by Armenian news agency Snark on 11th May Yerevan, 10th May:

The Self-Determination Union+ (SDU+) pre-election bloc is experiencing external pressure, the SDU+ leader and former Soviet dissident, MP and parliamentary candidate in the forthcoming parliamentary elections on 30th May in Armenia, Paruyr Ayrikyan, told journalists today. He said that just two days ago [8th May] persons unknown kidnapped a party office employee. and on 9th May another of Ayrikyan's party members was abducted for two hours from his own apartment.

Ayrikyan said they had received authentic information that representatives of the pre-election headquarters of the ex-presidential candidate and present parliamentary candidate, Karen Demirchyan, were involved in the kidnapping on 9th May. Asked by a Snark correspondent to comment on Ayrikyan's statement, the pre-election headquarters of Demirchyan advised Snark news agency "not to believe in such statements."

Source: Snark news agency, Yerevan, in Russian 0500 gmt 11 May 99 BBC Mon TCU 110599 mm/fa