Armenian President Robert Kocharian has chaired an emergency meeting of government officials following the death of Prime Minister Andranik Markarian, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reported.
Officials said Markarian, 55, died suddenly of a heart attack at his home on March 25.
Markarian, leader of the ruling Republican Party, had served as prime minister for nearly seven years.
"It is very heavy blow to the state, to the people and to the party, because for many years Andranik Markarian was one of the pillars, and when there were difficulties he was the key man who could bring closer very distant positions," Tigran Torosian, speaker of the Armenian parliament and a leading member of the Republican Party, told RFE/RL. "Thanks to his efforts, we were able to avoid various shocks."
Markarian came to power in 2000 during a politically tense period in Armenia following the October, 1999, armed attack on parliament that killed eight politicians, including then-Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsian.
Reports say Kocharian is likely to appoint a temporary prime minister to help guide Armenia to parliamentary elections scheduled for May 12. The government is set to announce its resignation as required by the constitution, and a temporary prime minister should be appointed in 10 days.
Kocharian today called for a national day of mourning on March 28, when the funeral of Prime Minister Andranik Markarian will be held.
Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org
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