THOUSANDS of protesters took to the streets of the Armenian capital Yerevan today morning after talks between the opposition and the acting prime minister were called off.

Protest leader Nikol Pashinian had been expected to sit down for talks with acting Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan to discuss political transition after Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan abruptly stepped down on Monday amid massive anti-government protests.

Mr Karapetyan is an ally of Mr Sargsyan, who ruled Armenia for 10 years. The opposition insists that he should step down soon to make way for a new premier appointed by a new parliament. Today’s talks were supposed to discuss that transition.

Mr Karapetyan said in a statement that the talks with Mr Pashinian were cancelled after the opposition made unspecified “unilateral demands.”

Mr Pashinian called on his supporters to take to the streets in protest.

About 5,000 people marched in central Yerevan, blocking traffic and chanting: “Join us!”

“Authorities won’t step down, they are just dragging their feet,” said protester Garik Migranyan. “But we will make them do that. We are the power.”

Armenia’s sports minister Hrachya Rostomyan today sided with the protesters, telling demonstrators in Republic Square that he is resigning.

Police were deployed at government buildings and the headquarters of the ruling Republican Party, with an armoured vehicle spotted nearby.

“We will not allow authorities to steal our victory,” Mr Pashinian told supporters today. “There will be more of us here with every day until we take power.”

Mr Pashinian said he and his allies would boycott the snap parliamentary election if a member of the ruling Republican Party remains prime minister.

He earlier said “a people’s candidate” should replace Mr Karapetyan and said he would be willing to become premier if people support him.

Former prime minister and president Mr Sargsyan said in a statement he is concerned about the tensions in the country and would launch talks with pro-government and ruling parties in search of compromise.

Mr Sargsyan is himself at the heart of the protests after trying to hold onto power by transferring the president’s powers to the prime minister and then swapping jobs.