Kyrgyz govt steps down, Opposition claims control

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Kyrgyz govt steps down, Opposition claims control

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07 April,2010 07:20 pm

Anti-government protests in Kyrgyzstan have escalated violently, with 100 people including interior minister killed as police clashed with demonstrators in the capital, Bishkek. Large-scale protests appear to have overthrown the government of Kyrgyzstan. The countrys president, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, fled the capital, Bishkek, on his plane, and the opposition declared that it was forming its own government. Earlier, President Bakiyev has declared a state of emergency in protest-hit areas. In the day, the police used bullets, tear gas and stun grenades against a crowd of thousands massing in front of the presidential office in Bishkek. At least 100 people including countrys interior minister were killed and several others were wounded. The unrest broke out in the provincial town of Talas on Tuesday and spread to the capital, Bishkek, and another town, Naryn, on Wednesday.Opposition activists also took control of state television channel KTR. The opposition have been demanding that Premier Bakiyev, who came to power in a people-power revolt in 2005, tackle corruption and fire his relatives from senior positions.The Kyrgyz opposition said it had forced the Central Asian country's government to resign after troops shot at protesters besieging government buildings, killing dozens.