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2005-03-22 Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Leader of Kyrgyzstan orders probe into possible election fraud

Faced with rising unrest and calls for his resignation, the president of Kyrgyzstan on Monday ordered election officials to investigate allegations of fraud in the Central Asian republic's recent parliamentary elections. Demonstrations held almost daily after the Feb. 27 election and March 13 runoff intensified over the weekend as protesters burned down a police headquarters in the southern city of Jalal-Abad. Protesters also have overrun several police and government buildings in the southern part of the former Soviet republic. Though the rallies appear to be confined to the country's southern provinces, they have grown larger in recent days and show no signs of abating. Calling for the ouster of President Askar Akayev and his government, demonstrators have burned billboards with Akayev's image and pelted Kyrgyz riot police with stones in Jalal-Abad and Kyrgyzstan's second-largest city, Osh.

Thousands of protesters, some armed with clubs and Molotov cocktails, overran Osh on Monday, forcing police to flee, The Associated Press reported. The opposition occupied government buildings in five cities and towns across southern Kyrgyzstan, according to Interior Ministry spokesman Nurdin Jangarayev. In Jalal-Abad, protesters dumped rocks on the runway of the city airport to stymie government attempts to bring in more police. The AP reported that demonstrators in Osh seized control of the airport Monday. The army did not intervene despite the chaos. No casualties were reported. Akayev, 60, has led Kyrgyzstan for 15 years. His government has been regarded as more reform-oriented than Central Asia's other former Soviet republics. Akayev is constitutionally barred from running for a third term in presidential elections in October, but opposition leaders worry he may use the parliamentary majority he has to amend the constitution and seek another term. Akayev has denied wanting another term.

Posted by Fred 2005-03-22 00:00:00 AM|| E-Mail|| Front Page|| [37 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Busted! Lol! Definitely a throwback to the old Soviet School of Public Relations, heh. Sorry, but the train left the station yesterday - you did the deed, got caught by election observers, and this posturing is wasted. Dunno if you'll do a Ceausescu or not, but you're off the page. Fade away gracefully - while you can.

Posted by .com 2005-03-22 12:21:27 AM|| Front Page|| Top

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