Doctors in Armenia have expressed concern about the condition of a presidential candidate who has been on a hunger strike outside the parliament building for more than two weeks.

Andrias Gukasian is protesting what he described as improper use of state resources by the incumbent, Serge Sarkisian.

Sarkisian, who is facing seven challengers, is expected to easily win a second term in the Feb. 18 vote. His campaign has rejected Gukasian's allegations.

Gukasian, a political analyst, was examined by a medical team Wednesday, and the chief of the Armenian capital's healthcare department said that doctors will permanently stay at his side as he refused to be hospitalized.

The election race was thrown into disarray Friday when another candidate, Paruir Airikian, was shot and wounded by an unidentified assailant.