Kyrgyzstan president refuses to step down
Source: Agencies |
April 9, 2010, Friday
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THE president of Kyrgyzstan insisted yesterday that he was not admitting defeat and won't resign despite a bloody uprising and the formation of an interim government by the opposition.
Resistance from President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, who has fled the northern capital of Bishkek for the south, could raise the prospect of continued instability in the Central Asian nation.
The mountainous former Soviet republic erupted on Wednesday after angry protesters stormed government buildings in Bishkek and riot police fired straight into crowds, leaving dozens dead and hundreds wounded.
"I don't admit defeat in any way," Bakiyev said on the Ekho Moskvy radio station, but also recognized that "even though I am president, I don't have any real levers of power."
Earlier yesterday, opposition leader Roza Otunbayeva said parliament was dissolved and she would head an interim government that would rule for six months until elections were held.
She said the opposition controlled four of the country's seven provinces and urged Bakiyev to resign.
"His business in Kyrgyzstan is finished," she said.
She also said there were no immediate plans to revisit the current one-year lease on the Manas United States air base, which runs out in July.
US military officials said Kyrgyzstan halted flights for 12 hours on Wednesday at Manas and were evasive yesterday about further details.
Bakiyev was emphatic yesterday that he was still the elected leader of the nation of 5 million people.
"I do not intend to relinquish power. I see no point," he said, adding that his re-election nine months ago proved he had popular support.
Asked why he fled, he said: "I wouldn't have left, but when they started firing on my windows, it was only by chance that I avoided injury."
Otunbayeva, the former foreign minister, said the president was in the southern region of Jalal-Abad, the heart of his political stronghold.
The US Embassy denied reports in the Kyrgyz media that its citizens were being evacuated to the Manas base, where about 1,200 US troops are stationed.
However, Americans in civilian clothing were seen entering the base yesterday morning.
Russia, which also has a base there, sent in 150 paratroopers to ensure the safety of the 400 military personnel and their families there, Russian state media reported.
In Bishkek, most of the government buildings in the capital, as well as Bakiyev's houses, have been looted or set on fire and two major markets were burned down.
Since coming to power in 2005 amid street protests known as the Tulip Revolution, Bakiyev had ensured a measure of stability, but the opposition said he did so at the expense of democratic standards while enriching himself and his family.
The Health Ministry said at least 74 people were killed and 530 hospitalized in clashes nationwide on Wednesday.
(AP)
Resistance from President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, who has fled the northern capital of Bishkek for the south, could raise the prospect of continued instability in the Central Asian nation.
The mountainous former Soviet republic erupted on Wednesday after angry protesters stormed government buildings in Bishkek and riot police fired straight into crowds, leaving dozens dead and hundreds wounded.
"I don't admit defeat in any way," Bakiyev said on the Ekho Moskvy radio station, but also recognized that "even though I am president, I don't have any real levers of power."
Earlier yesterday, opposition leader Roza Otunbayeva said parliament was dissolved and she would head an interim government that would rule for six months until elections were held.
She said the opposition controlled four of the country's seven provinces and urged Bakiyev to resign.
"His business in Kyrgyzstan is finished," she said.
She also said there were no immediate plans to revisit the current one-year lease on the Manas United States air base, which runs out in July.
US military officials said Kyrgyzstan halted flights for 12 hours on Wednesday at Manas and were evasive yesterday about further details.
Bakiyev was emphatic yesterday that he was still the elected leader of the nation of 5 million people.
"I do not intend to relinquish power. I see no point," he said, adding that his re-election nine months ago proved he had popular support.
Asked why he fled, he said: "I wouldn't have left, but when they started firing on my windows, it was only by chance that I avoided injury."
Otunbayeva, the former foreign minister, said the president was in the southern region of Jalal-Abad, the heart of his political stronghold.
The US Embassy denied reports in the Kyrgyz media that its citizens were being evacuated to the Manas base, where about 1,200 US troops are stationed.
However, Americans in civilian clothing were seen entering the base yesterday morning.
Russia, which also has a base there, sent in 150 paratroopers to ensure the safety of the 400 military personnel and their families there, Russian state media reported.
In Bishkek, most of the government buildings in the capital, as well as Bakiyev's houses, have been looted or set on fire and two major markets were burned down.
Since coming to power in 2005 amid street protests known as the Tulip Revolution, Bakiyev had ensured a measure of stability, but the opposition said he did so at the expense of democratic standards while enriching himself and his family.
The Health Ministry said at least 74 people were killed and 530 hospitalized in clashes nationwide on Wednesday.
(AP)
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