Opposition leader Pashinyan fails in bid to be PM

Armenian opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan has failed in his bid to become interim prime minister.

After a day of debate in parliament, he failed to garner enough votes despite being the only candidate for the post.
After the vote, he urged tens of thousands of supporters gathered in the capital Yerevan to begin a campaign of civil disobedience.
He called for a general strike to be launched on Wednesday morning, with roads, railways and airports blocked.
Mr Pashinyan, 42, has led weeks of anti-government rallies that forced former PM Serzh Sargsyan to resign.
He had earlier warned MPs of a "political tsunami" if they did not back him.

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What happened in parliament?

Armenia's ruling Republican Party had said it would not put up a candidate, in a bid to ease tensions.
But the protest leader warned there were moves aimed at halting his bid and he urged protesters to stay on the streets to prevent the Republican Party from "stealing the people's victory".
In his address to MPs, Mr Pashinyan said the Republicans had "declared war on the Armenian people", when it became clear they would not support him.
He received 45 votes but needed 53 to secure a majority in the 105-seat chamber.

How did his supporters react?

In Yerevan's Republic Square, Mr Pashinyan's supporters shouted "shame" when the result of the vote was shown on two huge screens.

The opposition leader, accompanied by his wife, arrived in the square soon after, with the crowd chanting "Nikol, Nikol".
"From 8:15 am tomorrow all roads should be blocked, I announce a general strike," he told the crowd.
"A revolution of love and tolerance continues."
Under Armenia's constitution, a second vote for prime minister must be held in seven days' time. If again no candidate is elected, then parliament is dissolved.
Mr Sargsyan, who had served 10 years as president, stepped down last month days after being sworn in as PM. He had been accused of trying to cling to power.
All 47 opposition members of parliament had pledged to vote for Mr Pashinyan, but he needed votes from at least six Republican Party deputies to win a majority in the 105-seat house. The Republican Party has dominated Armenian politics since 1999.
Mr Pashinyan has said he will rid Armenia of corruption, poverty and nepotism and has promised snap elections.