EU's Solana urges restraint, talks in Armenia

(BRUSSELS) - EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana spoke with the president of Armenia, Robert Kocharian, on Sunday and urged him to resolve the post-election crisis there as soon as possible, his office said.

"I call upon all parties to exercise restraint so as to facilitate a quick return to normality," Solana said, according to a statement.

"Dialogue with the opposition should be resumed as it is the only way forward."

Authorities imposed a state of emergency in the capital Yerevan late on Saturday following violent clashes between riot police and protesters demonstrating against the result of a presidential election.

Solana has also asked his special envoy for the south Caucasus, Peter Semneby, to go to Yerevan on his behalf, the statement said.