Armenian opposition leader starts hunger strike YEREVAN, Armenia, March 11 (UPI) -- Armenia's former Foreign Minister Raffi Hovannisian announced he started a hunger strike to protest the result of February presidential elections. Hovannisian lost to incumbent Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, who took 58.6 percent of the vote during a Feb. 18 contest. Hovannisian said he was going on a hunger strike, calling on Sargsyan to step aside before his April 9 swearing-in ceremony, reports Russia's state-owned news agency RIA Novosti. Hovannisian's campaign last week said it filed an appeal in court challenging the results of last month's election.