Armenia protests: 70 arrested, including 2 suspected bombers

Armenian authorities say more than 70 people have been arrested, including two people suspected of building bombs, as large protests against the new government entered their second week in the capital.

Thousands of demonstrators on Saturday closed off streets in Yerevan during a march pressing demands for the prime minister to resign. Former President Serzh Sargsyan was named premier this week as Armenia transitioned to a new system of government that reduces the presidency's power and bolsters the prime minister role.

Police block demonstrators gathered to protest the former president's shift into the prime minister's seat in Yerevan, Armenia, Saturday, April 21, 2018. Armenian authorities say more than 70 people have been arrested, including two people suspected of building bombs, as large protests against the new government enter their second week in the capital. (Hrant Khachatryan, PAN Photo via AP)

Police block demonstrators gathered to protest the former president's shift into the prime minister's seat in Yerevan, Armenia, Saturday, April 21, 2018. Armenian authorities say more than 70 people have been arrested, including two people suspected of building bombs, as large protests against the new government enter their second week in the capital. (Hrant Khachatryan, PAN Photo via AP)

Opponents say the shift effectively makes Sargsyan Armenia's leader for life.

The national security service said two people with opposition connections were arrested for preparing bombings in public places. Police, meanwhile, said at least 70 demonstrators were detained.

Police block demonstrators gathered to protest the former president's shift into the prime minister's seat in Yerevan, Armenia, Saturday, April 21, 2018. (Hrant Khachatryan, PAN Photo via AP)

Police block demonstrators gathered to protest the former president's shift into the prime minister's seat in Yerevan, Armenia, Saturday, April 21, 2018.  (Hrant Khachatryan, PAN Photo via AP)

In the evening, about 50,000 demonstrators gathered in the capital's central Republic Square.

President Armen Sarkisian, a former Armenian prime minister and ambassador to Britain who was elected in March when term limits required Sargsyan to step down, came to the square to speak with protest leader Nikol Pashinian.

Police detain an opposition demonstrator protesting the former president's shift into the prime minister's seat in Yerevan, Armenia, Friday, April 20, 2018. (Hrant Khachatryan, PAN Photo via AP)

Their discussion was not broadcast to the crowd.

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Hailey Van Lith, who joined LSU this past season and reached the Elite Eight with the defending national champion before a loss to Caitlin Clark and Iowa, is transferring to TCU for her fifth and final season.

Van Lith spent her first three seasons with Louisville, reaching a Final Four and another Elite Eight before deciding to join four-time champion coach Kim Mulkey's team at LSU. TCU announced her decision Friday.

The guard averaged 14.5 points, four rebounds and 2.8 assists per game with the Cardinals and Tigers. She played mostly wing for Louisville before moving to point guard for Mulkey's team.

Van Lith is joining a TCU program that made the AP Top 25 this season before injuries forced the Horned Frogs to forfeit two games and hold open tryouts to bolster the roster.

TCU got off to a school-record 14-0 start, including a victory over BYU in the Big 12 Conference opener, before a six-game losing streak capped by the two forfeits. The Horned Frogs finished 21-12 and 6-12 in the Big 12 under second-year coach Mark Campbell.

Van Lith won't be playing with Haley Cavinder, who had announced she was headed to TCU from Miami. Her twin sister, Hanna Cavinder, had said she was considering no longer playing when both said they were leaving the Hurricanes.

After Hanna Cavinder decided to continue her career, both sisters said they were returning to Miami.

Van Lith will get to play with a pair of 20-point scorers in Sedona Prince and Madison Conner. Prince and Conner were among the players injured when TCU's 2023-24 season was derailed.

Born in Wenachtee, Washington, Van Lith is the only active Division I player with at least 1,900 points, 500 rebounds and 350 assists.

Van Lith, who will be a graduate student, also has been active with USA Basketball and is among the candidates for the 3x3 national team that will compete at the Paris Olympics this summer.

AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball

Hailey Van Lith is headed to TCU for a final season after a one-year run with LSU

FILE - LSU guard Hailey Van Lith passes the ball during the first half of a Elite Eight college basketball game against Iowa in the NCAA Tournament, April 1, 2024, in Albany, N.Y. Van Lith is focused on trying to make the USA Basketball 3x3 Olympic team this summer and not worried about where she’ll end up at college next year. Van Lith is taking part in a training camp in Springfield, Mass. this weekend and will play in a tournament early next week at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink, file)

Hailey Van Lith is headed to TCU for a final season after a one-year run with LSU