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Armenian police say talks with insurgents to release hostages continue

The police report no new serious incidents on the night from July 17 to July 18

YEREVAN, July 18. /TASS /. The police of the Armenian capital of Yerevan have not registered any new serious incidents on the night from July 17 to July 18, the situation was quiet, an official with the police said.

More than 24 hours have passed since a group of armed people took hostage servicemen Patrol-Guard Service of the city police.

The stretch of the street, where the service is located, is still blocked by heavy trucks and dump trucks.

According to local police, about 30 radical opposition supporters riding a Kraz truck rammed into the gates of the Armenian patrol and inspection police regiment in Yerevan at about 05:00 a.m. local time (02:00 GMT) on Sunday, July 17, and burst into the regiment’s territory.

As a result of the shootout, there are persons injured from both sides.

The attackers in Yerevan hold hostage seven policemen, including general.

According to some data, the attackers are holding captive Armenian Deputy Police Chief Major-General Vartan Yegiazaryan.

The insurgents are demanding that the authorities should release Zhirair Sefilyan who was arrested in June on suspicion of organizing an armed group that had been preparing the seizure of the Yerevan TV Center and other important facilities.

According to the National Security Service of Armenia, representatives of the law enforcement agencies are in talks with the insurgents "trying to convince them to refrain from further actions that threaten life and health of people, to release the hostages, lay down their arms and surrender without resistance to the authorities." So far the negotiations have been unsuccessful.