VIOLENT PROTESTS SPREAD IN KYRGYZSTAN

Tert.am
15:39 ~U 07.04.10

Clashes in Kyrgyzstan between police and opposition protesters have
spread to several cities in the north. Several thousand people were
marching from the opposition headquarters to the main government
offices in the capital Bishkek after clashes with police, reports BBC.

The unrest comes a day after thousands of people stormed government
offices in the north-west city of Talas. The opposition is calling
for President Kurmanbek Bakiyev to resign over rising fuel prices
and corruption. The protesters in Bishkek appeared to be leaderless
after a number of opposition heads were arrested overnight.

Earlier, police had used tear gas and stun grenades to break up
crowds outside an opposition headquarters but the protesters rallied
to march to the presidential offices in the city centre.

The unrest began on Tuesday in the north-western city of Talas, where
protesters briefly took the local governor hostage while another group
surrounded the local police headquarters. Angry crowds attacked police
special forces with rocks and petrol bombs. They reportedly set fire
to portraits of President Bakiyev. Several opposition leaders were
arrested overnight and journalists attacked, adding to the tensions
in the country.

The US has said it is deeply concerned about the civil unrest in the
country. In a statement, the US embassy in Bishkek said it would call
on "all parties to show respect for the rule of law and call on both
the demonstrators and the government to engage in talks to resolve
differences in a peaceful, orderly and legal manner."

Moscow has also expressed concern, with urging the authorities not
to use force against demonstrators.

According to BBC News, in recent weeks, the authorities have clamped
down on independent media, and several internet news sources are
still blocked in the country.

Five years ago, mass protests in Kyrgyzstan brought Bakiyev to power.

He promised to fight corruption and promote democracy, but his critics
say the country has become increasingly authoritarian under his rule.