Armenia presidential candidate reportedly shot, wounded

YEREVAN, Armenia – A doctor says that a candidate in Armenia's presidential election has been shot and wounded.

Ara Minasian, the chief doctor of the Yerevan Clinical Hospital, said Paruir Airikian was shot by an unidentified gunman in the Armenian capital just before midnight Thursday. He said Airikian was hospitalized with a gunshot wound and is in stable condition.

Airikian is one of eight candidates in the Feb. 18 presidential vote, which incumbent Serge Sarkisian is expected to win. Airikian is expected to win only a few percent of the vote, according to opinion surveys.

Police were searching for the gunman.