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Kyrgyz protesters storm provincial govt. office
[Iran Press TV Latest] Protesters have stormed a provincial government office in Talas city, Kyrgyzstan, demanding the resignation of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev. "Out! Out! Go away!"
Talas Governor Beishen Bolotbekov had been taken hostage when demonstrators seized a local government office, Reuters quoted local opposition leaders and witnesses as saying. However, Prime Minister Daniyar Usenov told reporters in the capital Bishkek that the governor had not been captured and vowed to use force to prevent any further unrest. Discontent in the former Soviet republic has been on the rise due to what the opposition says is growing public frustration with corruption, nepotism, and high prices. The unrest is of particular concern to the US, which operates an important air base in Kyrgyzstan supporting operations against the Taliban in nearby Afghanistan. The leader of the Ata-Meken opposition party stated that military bases have become more active. "Helicopters and planes are taking off and landing all the time," Omurbek Tekebayev said. "We do not rule out that the government may use military force against civilians," he added. Tekebayev said that Ata-Meken vice chairman Bolot Sherniyazov was arrested on Tuesday morning, creating a wave of protests. The protesters demanded that Sherniyazov be released and soon the authorities were forced to acquiesce to their demands. Posted by: Fred 2010-04-07 |
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