Day of mourning for the victims of unrest declared in Kyrgyzstan

Day of mourning declared in Kyrgyzstan.

According to the preliminary data of the health care ministry of Kyrgyzstan, 1522 people injured and 75 have been killed in unrest, informed acting minister of health Damira Niyazaliyeva.  

News agency «Zpress.kg» expresses the condolences to families, close relatives and friends and grieves with them.

Medvedev expressed concern over Kyrgyz riot

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday expressed concern over Kyrgyz riot and urged Kyrgyzstan to end violence, his spokeswoman said.

"The president thinks that the most important thing is that further deaths are prevented and control over the country is restored," Natalia Timakova said.

"This is Kyrgyzstan's domestic affair but the form this protest has taken points to an extreme level of public outrage with the authorities," Timakova cited Medvedev as saying.

"Kyrgyzstan has been and remains Russia's strategic partner so we will closely follow the developments in the republic," Timakova said.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin earlier called on the Kyrgyz government and opposition for restraint, after a day of clashes in the capital Bishkek.

"No matter what is going on there, it's Kyrgyzstan's domestic affair. The only thing I ask is that the authorities and opposition demonstrate restraint and refrain from violence," Putin said at a news conference in Moscow.

The prime minister stressed that Russia was not involved in Kyrgyz riot.

Clashes between police and opposition protesters in Kyrgyzstan continued on Wednesday, as protesters stormed into parliament building, took over the national TV and radio building and set fire on government offices in Bishkek.

At least 68 people were killed and more than 400 others were injured in the violent clashes, the Kyrgyz Health Ministry reported.

PM of Russia Vladimir Putin is to support interim government of Kyrgyzstan

Head of the interim government Roza Otunbayeva has told with PM of Russia Vladimir Putin on the phone.
Russia’s PM promised to support the interim government of Kyrgyzstan. It is expected that opposition member Almazbek Atambayev will leave for Moscow for talks with Russian authority.

Washington says closely monitors situation in Kyrgyzstan

Washington is closely monitoring the situation in the Central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan, where bloody protests left at least 47 people killed and some 400 injured, the U.S. Department of State said.

The protests against the ruling government, initiated by the country's opposition, began in the northwestern Kyrgyz town of Talas on Tuesday spreading to other regions of the country, including the capital Bishkek, on Wednesday. Opposition has declared it assumed full power in Kyrgyzstan.

"Clearly we are monitoring very closely the situation in Bishkek regarding these protests... We urge all parties to show respect for the rule of law and resolve differences in a peaceful, orderly, and legal manner," Assistant Secretary Philip Crowley told a daily press briefing.

He said the U.S. airbase in Kyrgyzstan as well as the embassy continues to function normally under the current circumstances.

"As I understand it, right now the transit center at the Manas airport is functioning normally. We've put out a Warden Message regarding our own Embassy personnel and all Embassy personnel remain accounted for... Right now, as far as I know, the Embassy is functioning normally," Crowley said.

The United States uses an airbase in Manas outside Kyrgyzstan's capital, Bishkek, to support its operations in nearby Afghanistan.

Crowds ransack Kyrgyz government headquarters

Crowds have set fire to and looted parts of the government headquarters in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek.

The development comes after the opposition claimed full control of the country following riots that left at least 65 people dead.

Around 1,000 people are currently in the square in front of the building and looters are carrying equipment and carpets out of the building. Smoke can be seen rising from the sixth and seven floors - home to the presidential offices.

A blood-splattered portrait of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev is hanging from a fence in front of the government building.

Fires are raging across the city and shopping centres and shops have been looted. Similar scenes are reported throughout the former Soviet republic

The opposition, which is due to give a news conference at 11:00 a.m. (05:00 GMT), has called for calm and urged a halt to the looting.

Opposition-nominated premier Rosa Otunbayeva has said that Prime Minister Daniyar Usenov has signed a letter of resignation and the whereabouts of Bakiyev are unknown.

Despite the chaos, Bishkek mayor Nariman Tulyeev has said that vital services will be maintained. Street sweepers, out as usual on Thursday morning, could be seen clearing up the debris from three days of violent protests.

Major political unrest started in Kyrgyzstan last month, with opposition forces accusing the government of tightening its grip on power while failing to bring stability and economic growth.

The situation escalated on Tuesday, when several opposition leaders were arrested after police and activists clashed in the northwestern Kyrgyz town of Talas, and the unrest spread on Wednesday.

Interior ministry of Kyrgyzstan captured in Talas

Interior ministry of Kyrgyzstan Moldomusa Kongantiyev has been captured by the protesters in Talas oblast.

Kongantiyev has arrived in Talas to hold peace negotiations with the protesters in Talas.

Mass disorders began in Issyk Kul oblast

Mass disorders began in Issyk Kul oblast.  

More than 10000 protesters try to occupy the government House in Bishkek.  Protesters tried to demolish the gates of the White House.

Protesters try to occupy White House in Kyrgyzstan

More than 10000 protesters try to occupy the government House in Bishkek.  Protesters tried to demolish the gates of the White House.

Snipers from White House opened gun and killed 1 protester.  

Protesters gathered in front of Media forum in Bishkek

Protesters gathered in front of Media forum in Bishkek.

Fighting between police and supporters began. Police used tear gas and rubber bullets to stop supporters.   

Kyrgyz authorities arrest opposition party members

Law enforcement agents have arrested several Kyrgyz opposition leaders, rights activists said on Tuesday.

The leader of the opposition Ata-Meken party, Omurbek Tekebayev, was arrested near a rights organization office. "Men with automatic weapons detained Tekebayev, put him into a car and took him to an undisclosed location," a rights activist said.

Ata-Meken's vice-chairman, Bolot Sherniyazov, who was participating in the riot in Talas, was also detained, Kyrgyz Interior Minister Moldomusa Kongantiyev told journalists.

Kongantiyev added all the rioters will be brought to trial.

Earlier on Tuesday, Kyrgyz authorities had subdued rioters in the city of Talas by running the crowds off using tear gas.

Kongantiyev said that after the riots in Talas, all of the activities by the United People's Movement would be considered unlawful and any attempts to continue protests on Wednesday would be stopped.

"They have violated constitutional order, they have taken over an administrative building, broken windows, used Molotov cocktails and held the governor for some time," the interior minister said describing the rioters' actions.

He said the situation in the republic was stable.

Kyrgyz Prime Minister Daniyar Usenov earlier on Tuesday confirmed that the protesters seized the Talas government building but refuted reports in Western media saying that they had also taken hostages.

Kyrgyzstan, where Russia and the United States both have military bases, has been in a state of constant instability since current President Kurmanbek Bakiyev came to power after the so-called tulip revolution, toppling his long-serving predecessor Askar Akayev in 2005.

The opposition has accused Bakiyev of tightening his grip on power while failing to bring stability and economic growth. His party won most seats in parliament in the early December 2007 election after two years of political upheaval.

Building of administration and Governor of Talas oblast are released, opposition leader Sherniyazov arrested

Building of administration and Governor of Talas oblast are have been released, opposition leader Sherniyazov has been arrested, informed it the minister of interior ministry of Kyrgyzstan Moldomusa Kongantiyev at the press conference.

According to the interior ministry, about 400 officers of law-enforcement body of Kyrgyzstan dispelled all protesters using the tear gas, noise grenades.

“All action of opposition will be cruelly stopped, organizers of protest actions will be brought to justice” said Kongantiyev.

Talas oblast’s protesters attacked regional administration building

1.5 thousand protesters, who were dissatisfied with the detention of former deputy opposition politician Bolot Sherniyazov, have occupied regional administration building.

Police has detained Bolot Sherniyazov in Talas city.  According to the Azattyk radio, Sherniyazov expected to participate in the national kurultai meeting, planned by opposition forces on April 7. After that, about 1 thousand of his supporters have gathered and demanded the immediate release of opposition leader.
Governor of Talas oblast resigned.

Secretary General encouraged authorities of Kyrgyzstan to observe human rights

The Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, during his visit to Kyrgyzstan drew attention to the necessity to protectl human rights, including freedom of speech and freedom of the press, Kazakhstan Today reports citing the press release placed on the United Nations site.

"Protection of human rights for the United Nations is the basic principle if the state wishes to prosper," Ban Ki-moon said to the Kyrgyz Parliament, having added that "the latest events have been quite disturbing, including the last few days."

"The mass media informed of the cases of restriction of freedom of speech and freedom of press in the country, including the fact of the recent closing of the oppositional newspaper and some other mass media.

Ban Ki-moon touched upon this question at the meeting with the President of the country, Kurmanbek Bakiev, and the Prime Minister, Daniyar Usenov, in Bishkek.

Kyrgyzstan’s President met with the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Bishkek

Kyrgyzstan’s President Kurmanbek Bakiyev has met with the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
While welcoming the distinguished guest, Mr. Bakiyev said Kyrgyzstan views the UN as the most authoritative and universal international organization, which is the only appropriate forum of multilateral diplomacy and the most effective platform for collective actions to cope with threats and challenges of our time.
The President also stressed that cooperation with the UN is a priority for foreign policy."We welcome the active operations of the UN and its agencies in our country. We are pleased with the adoption of the  UN program in Kyrgyzstan and ready to support its implementation", - said K. Bakiyev.
 
In his response, Ban Ki-moon expressed his appreciation to the Kyrgyz side for their hospitality and warm welcome.

The sides also exchanged opinions on urgent international issues of regional cooperation and security, the further expansion of cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and the United Nations. UN Secretary-General has invited the head of state to attend the summit on the Millennium Development Goals, which was scheduled for September this year, reports the press service of the Secretariat of the President of Kyrgyzstan.
 
The Kyrgyz Republic joined the UN March 2, 1992

All information based on the newswire of the Zpress.kg news agency