YEREVAN, March 10 (RIA Novosti) – Opposition politician who ran for presidency in Armenia last month said Sunday that he has gone on hunger strike to protest against the official election results.

Raffi Hovhannisyan, US-born leader of the opposition Heritage party, came in the second at the February 18 presidential election with 36.74 percent of votes. Incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan won the election with almost 59 percent, but Hovhannisyan has appealed the official vote results saying they were rigged.

Hovhannisyan pledged Sunday to continue his hunger strike urging Sargsyan to step down by April 9, when he is scheduled to swear in as president for his second term.

Sargsyan hasn't publicly commented on Hovhannisyan's statement yet.