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Armenian Capital's Mayor Resigns After National Change of Power

by Reuters

   YEREVAN --

   The mayor of the Armenian capital Yerevan resigned Monday, two months
   after his party was ousted from national power following weeks of mass
   protests against corruption and cronyism.

   Opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan was elected prime minister by
   parliament on May 8. He then appointed allies and supporters to his
   cabinet and submitted a new government program, which was approved by
   parliament in June.

   Taron Margaryan, an influential member of the former ruling Republican
   Party, resigned as Yerevan mayor, a post he had held since November
   2011. Margaryan did not explain in a statement why he had stepped down.

   Several street protests had been held since Pashinyan took office to
   demand Margaryan's resignation.