Sarksyan's call coincided with a ninth consecutive day of rallies by tens of thousands of opposition supporters demonstrating against his appointment.

Parliament voted on Tuesday to allow Sarksyan, who served as president of the small ex-Soviet republic from 2008 until this month, to become premier, in a job switch his opponents say show he wants to continue to wield power.

Under a revised constitution approved by a referendum in 2015, the prime minister now has the most power in Armenia, while the presidency has become largely ceremonial.

Sarksyan's ally, Armen Sarkissian, was sworn in as president last week after being elected by parliament in March.

...