Kyrgyzstan riots lead to at least 40 deaths
Source: Agencies |
April 8, 2010, Thursday
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THOUSANDS of protesters furious over corruption and spiraling utility bills seized government buildings and clashed with police yesterday in Kyrgyzstan. Police opened fire on demonstrators, killing dozens and wounding hundreds.
The chaos erupted after elite police at government headquarters in the capital, Bishkek, began shooting to drive back crowds of demonstrators called onto the streets by opposition parties for a day of protest.
The crowds took control of the state TV building and looted it, then marched toward the Interior Ministry, before changing direction and attacking a national security building nearby. They were repelled by security forces.
The leader of the main opposition party said on the former state television channel that he had formed a new government and was negotiating with the president and demanding he step down.
Kyrgyzstan's Health Ministry said 40 people had died and more than 400 were wounded in clashes with police. Opposition leader Toktoim Umetalieva said at least 100 people had died after police opened fire.
Dozens of wounded demonstrators lined the corridors of one of Bishkek's main hospitals, where doctors were unable to cope with the flood of patients. Nurses slumped over dead bodies, doctors shouted at each other and the floors were covered in blood.
Opposition activist Shamil Murat said Interior Minister Moldomusa Kongatiyev had been beaten to death by a mob in the western town of Talas where the unrest began a day ago. The Fergana.ru Website reported later that Kongatiyev was badly beaten but had not died, saying its own reporter had witnessed the beating.
The unrest began on Tuesday in Talas, where demonstrators stormed a government office and held a governor hostage, prompting a government warning of "severe" repercussions for continuing unrest.
The opposition called nationwide protests for yesterday, vowing to defy President Kurmanbek Bakiyev.
Police in Bishkek at first used rubber bullets, tear gas, water cannons and concussion grenades yesterday to try to control crowds of young men clad in black who were chasing police officers, beating them up and seizing their arms, trucks and armored personnel carriers.
Some protesters then tried to use a personnel carrier to ram the gates of the government headquarters, known as the White House. Many of the protesters threw rocks, but about a half dozen young protesters shot Kalashnikovs into the air from the square in front of the building.
Some 200 elite police began firing, pushing the crowd back from the government headquarters.
The president was not seen in public yesterday and his whereabouts were unclear.
(AP)
The chaos erupted after elite police at government headquarters in the capital, Bishkek, began shooting to drive back crowds of demonstrators called onto the streets by opposition parties for a day of protest.
The crowds took control of the state TV building and looted it, then marched toward the Interior Ministry, before changing direction and attacking a national security building nearby. They were repelled by security forces.
The leader of the main opposition party said on the former state television channel that he had formed a new government and was negotiating with the president and demanding he step down.
Kyrgyzstan's Health Ministry said 40 people had died and more than 400 were wounded in clashes with police. Opposition leader Toktoim Umetalieva said at least 100 people had died after police opened fire.
Dozens of wounded demonstrators lined the corridors of one of Bishkek's main hospitals, where doctors were unable to cope with the flood of patients. Nurses slumped over dead bodies, doctors shouted at each other and the floors were covered in blood.
Opposition activist Shamil Murat said Interior Minister Moldomusa Kongatiyev had been beaten to death by a mob in the western town of Talas where the unrest began a day ago. The Fergana.ru Website reported later that Kongatiyev was badly beaten but had not died, saying its own reporter had witnessed the beating.
The unrest began on Tuesday in Talas, where demonstrators stormed a government office and held a governor hostage, prompting a government warning of "severe" repercussions for continuing unrest.
The opposition called nationwide protests for yesterday, vowing to defy President Kurmanbek Bakiyev.
Police in Bishkek at first used rubber bullets, tear gas, water cannons and concussion grenades yesterday to try to control crowds of young men clad in black who were chasing police officers, beating them up and seizing their arms, trucks and armored personnel carriers.
Some protesters then tried to use a personnel carrier to ram the gates of the government headquarters, known as the White House. Many of the protesters threw rocks, but about a half dozen young protesters shot Kalashnikovs into the air from the square in front of the building.
Some 200 elite police began firing, pushing the crowd back from the government headquarters.
The president was not seen in public yesterday and his whereabouts were unclear.
(AP)
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