Armenia: As the nation's capital city prepared to welcome US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Armenia increased police presence in Yerevan's downtown on Saturday.
On Saturday night, the top Democrat in the lower house of Congress is anticipated to fly in from Berlin. She will be greeted by a group of US-supportive organisations outside the US embassy.

A Sputnik correspondent reported a significant police presence in the pedestrian-friendly Northern Avenue and Republic Square in the city centre. The US and Armenian national flags have been displayed along Marshal Baghramyan Avenue, which leads to the National Assembly.

Pelosi's visit to the Caucasian country occurs in the midst of fresh conflicts with its adversary in the region, Azerbaijan, with the neighbours blaming one another for opening fire first. Two years ago, the two sides engaged in a bloody conflict over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

After US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in August, tensions increased in the area. China denounced Pelosi's visit, which it saw as a show of support for Taiwan, and began extensive military drills near the island.

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