 The police stood about 1/2 km north at Shahumyan Square, passively watching as anarchy reigned on the area below.Miyasnikyan square to Mashdots Avenue was completely devoid of any law enforcement, and authorities watched passively as some of the crowd looted some stores.Despite calls from opposition leaders throughout the demonstrations to restrain the use of violence, some in the crowd (allegedly encouraged by "agent provocateurs") resorted to property destruction (of cars, windows, public places) and looting of a grocery store and a shoe store.