Armenian PM claims victory in snap election as rival alleges fraud

Opposition says it will not recognise Nikol Pashinyan's quick claim to victory, which came when just 30% of precincts had been counted

Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan has claimed victory in a snap parliamentary election he called in an effort to defuse a political crisis after last year's disastrous war with Azerbaijan.

But the electoral alliance of his top rival, former president Robert Kocharyan, swiftly contested the vote results and alleged election fraud.