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May 15, 2010

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Violence flares up in Kyrgyzstan

GUNFIRE erupted in Kyrgyzstan yesterday as hundreds of interim government backers fought supporters of deposed President Kurmanbek Bakiyev for control of regional government buildings, killing at least one and injuring dozens in the worst violence since last month's forceful government change.

The opponents exchanged gunshots, hurled stones and fought with sticks on a square in front of the regional government building in Jalal-Abad.

Several hundred Bakiyev supporters, some with automatic rifles, holed up in the building overnight after capturing it Thursday evening, but backers of the interim government drove them out yesterday after hours of tense confrontation.

Earlier in the day, the interim government's backers also ejected a pro-Bakiyev crowd that had occupied the regional government offices in Osh, about 70 kilometers from Jalal-Abad. The two parties threw rocks at one another, but there were no serious injuries there.

Interim government supporters waved flags, shouted "hurray!" and congratulated each other on their victory after their opponents fled.

Both cities are in the south, the power base for Bakiyev, who was ousted on April 7 amid clashes in the capital between government forces and protesters that left at least 85 people dead.

The US Embassy in Bishkek voiced concern about the unrest and urged parties to refrain from violence.



 

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