They believe he wants to engage in talks and make some concessions around the edges that would convince Washington and other countries to ease sanctions on his struggling economy.

Moscow decried anti-government rallies in neighboring post-Soviet nations as example of hostile Western interference.Opposition leaders have not yet commented on Sargsyans resignation and have called a rally in central Yerevan for Monday evening.

The move plunges the Caucasian Mountains country into uncertainty after 10 days of protests against Sargsyans appointment as prime minister.Zakharova wrote on her Facebook account.Critics saw that as an attempt by 63-year-old Sargsyan.

Leaders of other former Soviet republics from Belarus to Central Asia have also engineered themselves lifetime jobs.Russian officials and state television have been cautious in commenting on the unrest in Armenia.

was elected president in Sargsyans place.

The appointment was part of a transition to a new governmental system that reduces the powers of the presidency and bolsters those of the premier.000 UAW members at GM voting in favor.

The outcome was closer than expected after the UAWs celebrations of victories last month on many key demands that led to six weeks of targeted walkouts against GM.A vote-tracking spreadsheet on the unions website shows that with all local union offices reporting.

Voting continues at Ford through early Saturday.Rather than striking at one company