Armenia's parliament has elected opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan as new prime minister, two weeks after Serzh Sargsyan resigned following widespread anti-government demonstrations.

Pashinyan's so-called Velvet Revolution has exercised true people power - the ability to conjure up a storm of support on request.

His protest movement began with a march of non-violence on March 31, demanding Sargsyan to step down.

Pashinyan, 42, experienced a meteoric rise in popularity in recent weeks by appealing to Armenians of all ages.

He promised to rid the country of what he called a oligarchic, nepotistic political system, a message that has resonated with a younger generation frustrated by a lack of opportunities.