YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) — Armed members of an opposition group barricaded inside a police station in Armenia's capital have denied killing a police officer.

Varuzhan Avetisyan, a leading member of the group, said Sunday that police were wrong in accusing them of shooting the officer on Saturday, a killing that came amid heightened tensions in the two-week standoff.

Police said the officer was in a vehicle 400 meters (yards) from the station when he was hit by sniper fire.

The group of about 30 gunmen killed one officer and wounded several others when seizing the Yerevan police station on July 17 to demand freedom for their leader, who was arrested in June.

Security forces have since wounded eight of the gunmen, including three shot in the legs on Friday, apparently by sniper fire.