Yerevan (AFP) – Tens of thousands of Armenians on Wednesday converged on the capital, blocking roads and government buildings, as popular anger exploded over the ruling party’s rejection of opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan’s premiership bid.

In an unprecedented show of defiance, protesters paralysed Yerevan, with nearly all streets closed to traffic and many stores shut, AFP correspondents reported. The road linking Yerevan with its airport was also blocked.