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Opposition demonstrators march to protest the former president's shift into the prime minister's seat in Yerevan, Armenia, Friday, April 20, 2018. Beginning last Friday, the protests are against former President Serzh Sargsyan's assumption of the prime minister's post, just as the government changed its structure to reduce the power of the president, and give more authority to the premier. (Aram Kirakosyan, PAN Photo via AP)

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Opposition demonstrators march to protest the former president's shift into the prime minister's seat in Yerevan, Armenia, Friday, April 20, 2018. Beginning last Friday, the protests are against former President Serzh Sargsyan's assumption of the prime minister's post, just as the government changed its structure to reduce the power of the president, and give more authority to the premier. (Aram Kirakosyan, PAN Photo via AP)

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Police officers block the path of opposition demonstrators as they protest against the former president's shift into the prime minister's seat in Yerevan, Armenia, Friday, April 20, 2018. Beginning last Friday, the protests are against former President Serzh Sargsyan's assumption of the prime minister's post, just as the government changed its structure to reduce the power of the president, and give more authority to the premier. (Aram Kirakosyan, PAN Photo via AP)

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Opposition demonstrators march to protest the former president's shift into the prime minister's seat in Yerevan, Armenia, Friday, April 20, 2018. The protests, which began last Friday, are against former President Serzh Sargsyan's assumption of the prime minister's post. The move came as Armenia changed its government structure to reduce the power of the president and give more authority to the premier. (Hrant Khachatryan, PAN Photo via AP)

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Opposition demonstrators march to protest the former president's shift into the prime minister's seat in Yerevan, Armenia, Friday, April 20, 2018. The protests, which began last Friday, are against former President Serzh Sargsyan's assumption of the prime minister's post. The move came as Armenia changed its government structure to reduce the power of the president and give more authority to the premier. (Hrant Khachatryan, PAN Photo via AP)

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Police detain an opposition demonstrator protesting the former president's shift into the prime minister's seat in Yerevan, Armenia, Friday, April 20, 2018. The protests, which began last Friday, are against former President Serzh Sargsyan's assumption of the prime minister's post. The move came as Armenia changed its government structure to reduce the power of the president and give more authority to the premier. (Hrant Khachatryan, PAN Photo via AP)

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Protesters cover themselves with an Armenian national flag as they gather to call for the resignation of Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan, the former president who was appointed this week under a new government system that gives the prime minister expanded powers and diminishes the presidency. in Yerevan, Armenia, Friday, April 20, 2018. About 40,000 demonstrators gathered on the capital's central square as a week of large protests against the country's new leadership showed no sign of dissipating. (Hrant Khachatryan,PAN Photo via AP)

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Protesters gather to call for the resignation of Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan, the former president who was appointed this week under a new government system that gives the prime minister expanded powers and diminishes the presidency, in Yerevan, Armenia, Friday, April 20, 2018. About 40,000 demonstrators gathered on the capital's central square as a week of large protests against the country's new leadership showed no sign of dissipating. (Hrant Khachatryan/PAN Photo via AP)

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A protester holds a symbolic portrait of Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan in a black frame as others gather to call for the resignation of Sargsyan, the former president who was appointed this week under a new government system that gives the prime minister expanded powers and diminishes the presidency, in Yerevan, Armenia, Friday, April 20, 2018. About 40,000 demonstrators gathered on the capital's central square as a week of large protests against the country's new leadership showed no sign of dissipating. (Hrant Khachatryan/PAN Photo via AP)

40,000 gather in Armenia to demand leader's resignation

By Associated Press AP

PUBLISHED 1:39 PM ET May. 09, 2019

YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) — About 40,000 demonstrators have gathered in Armenia's capital as a week of protests against the country's new prime minister showed no sign of dissipating.

Protesters are calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan, the former president who was appointed this week under a new system that gives the prime minister expanded powers and diminishes the presidency.

The crowd that amassed at a central square on Friday blocked the defense minister's car before police forcefully cleared the way.

The head of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's human rights bureau called on Armenian authorities to ensure the demonstrations proceed peacefully.

A spokesman for the prime minister, Hovhannes Nikoghosyan, says OSCE isn't in a position "to fully and adequately evaluate the situation" since its Yerevan office closed last year.

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.