Armenian police on Sunday detained an opposition MP after ten days of anti-government protests and accusations of a power grab levied against Serzh Sargsyan, the prime minister.

Nikol Pashinyan was picked up by officers at a demonstration in Yerevan on Sunday, following a televised interview between him and Mr Sargsyan, which the prime minister cut short.

Police said in a statement: "Despite repeated calls to stop illegal rallies, Pashinyan continued leading a demonstration". It added that he and two other opposition politicians "were forcibly taken from the site".

The prosecutor general's office said that Mr Pashinyan and the other two "were detained as they were committing socially dangerous acts".

As an MP, Mr Pashinyan is protected by parliamentary immunity and cannot be arrested without the approval of lawmakers. His whereabouts is currently unclear.

His detention came on the tenth day of mass protests against Mr Sargsyan, who assumed the role of prime minister on April 17 after two five-year terms as president.