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Protesters urge Kyrgyz leader to quit, march on TV

03 Nov 2006 18:48:43 GMT
Source: Reuters

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Prime Minister Felix Kulov speaks in parliament in Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek November 3, 2006. A crowd of about 500 people demanding the resignation of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev on Friday briefly marched to the headquarters of state television but then dispersed peacefully.
REUTERS/VLADIMIR PIROGOV

(Corrects Lavrov quotes, using Reuters translation from the original Russian rather than the interpreter's translation during the news conference. Lavrov said the events were "alarming" not "very alarming".)

By Michael Steen

BISHKEK, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Opponents of Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev kept pressure on him to resign with fresh protests and a march on state television on Friday and officials accused them of plotting to seize control of state offices.

A crowd of about 500 people marched through midday traffic to the state television headquarters.

After jostling with interior ministry troops, opposition leaders were allowed in and emerged later saying they had been promised more air time. There was no disruption to broadcasts and the crowd dispersed peacefully.

Despite the promise, the opposition did not appear on state TV during evening prime time. A government spokesman said they would be given access from Saturday morning.

For a second day, protesters gathered on a central square, chanting "Bakiyev out!" But only about 2,000 people turned out, compared with an estimated 15,000 on Thursday.

The protesters say Bakiyev, who came to power after a coup in March 2005, has failed to improve life for the millions of Kyrgyz who live in poverty, has ditched democratic reforms and backtracked on implementing power-sharing with parliament.

Kyrgyzstan, a mainly Muslim nation of 5.2 million people, is home to both U.S. and Russian air bases. Outsiders are watching for signs of civil unrest they worry could spread to neighbouring countries in Central Asia.

"The opposition are quite serious. They have a certain feeling it's now or never," Michael Hall, Central Asia director for the think tank the International Crisis Group, told Reuters.

"(But) Bakiyev has also gotten somewhat stronger over the last year or so. His government is not quite as unstable as it was even at the beginning of this year."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the situation in Kyrgyzstan, a former Soviet republic, was "alarming" but that he hoped both the authorities and the opposition would be prudent.

"I hope that the two sides will show prudence and that the opposition will not break the law. All the problems must be resolved within the legal framework," Lavrov told reporters in Brussels.

DANGER

Hall said the main danger was that one side would make a wrong move -- either the authorities cracking down or any action by the protesters that could look like a coup attempt.

Bakiyev said the authorities had an audio tape of opposition leaders plotting to seize control of key state buildings. The opposition denied it planned a coup.

The recording was apparently made secretly at a meeting on Thursday night in the office of Omurbek Tekebayev, one of the main opposition leaders.

"Let's not get overtaken by emotion. There is no threat here. There are no forces to carry out a coup. But there are intentions. There is proof," Bakiyev told parliament.

Edil Baisalov, a protest leader, said: "We will only use peaceful and non-violent means ... It's not a secret that there are radical elements but we are asking that we be judged solely on our actions."

Many of Bishkek's shops took their shutters off and resumed normal business on Friday -- a sign shopkeepers did not sense mass disturbances were likely.

After camping out overnight on the main square in red plastic tents, the colour of the opposition, several hundred protesters resumed their chants and were gradually joined by others.

Ildyar Akhmetov, a jobless 18-year-old from the nearby town of Tokmok who spent the night in one of the tents, said: "We need jobs for young people and to think about the future."

"In one and a half years, Bakiyev has done nothing. If he won't go voluntarily he should if necessary be removed by force," he said.

Bakiyev was elected president after his predecessor, Askar Akayev, fled the country following violent protests against a flawed parliamentary election which culminated in protesters ransacking the presidential offices and looting shops.

Bakiyev has promised to present constitutional changes on Monday giving parliament more power. His opponents say they do not trust his assurances.

(Additional reporting by Olga Dzyubenko, and Sabina Zawadzki in Brussels)

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Last updated:Fri Nov 3 18:50:58 2006