Posted on Thu, Apr. 8, 2010
Coup declared in Kyrgyzstan (click here)By Peter Leonard
Associated Press
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan - Opposition leaders declared Wednesday that they had seized power in Kyrgyzstan, taking control of security headquarters, a state TV channel, and other government buildings after clashes between police and protesters left dozens dead.
The impoverished Central Asian nation houses a U.S. air base that is a key transit point for supplies to U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, who came to power in a similar uprising five years ago, was said to have fled to the southern city of Osh, and it was hard to gauge how much of the mountainous country was controlled by the opposition....
U.S. military base not affected by Kyrgyzstan coup (click here)
April 8th, 2010 - 3:18 pm ICT by BNO News
BISHKEK (BNO NEWS) — The U.S. military base in Kyrgyzstan will not be affected after the opposition assumed government control during a coup on Wednesday, an opposition leader said on Thursday.
Widespread riots on Wednesday, mainly in the country’s capital, left at least 68 people dead. Nearly 530 others sought medical attention, according to Damira Niyazlieva, the newly appointed Health Minister.
Ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiyev is reportedly in the southern part of the country, and is attempting to regain control. He is expected to attend a rally in Jalal-Abad later on Thursday.
More on coup : Report: Kyrgyzstan governor says President Bakiyev resigns amid deadly coup.
Kyrgyzstan opposition claims to have power after protesters die in riots (click here for video)
• Government buildings and security HQ taken in chaos
• At least 40 demonstrators shot dead in street clashes
Luke Harding in Moscow and agencies guardian.co.uk
Wednesday 7 April 2010 19.54 BST
Opposition leaders in Kyrgyzstan declared they had seized power early this morning, taking control of security headquarters, state television and various government buildings after a chaotic day in which riot police shot dead at least 40 people and protesters attempted to storm the main government building in the capital, Bishkek.
The opposition leader, Roza Otunbayeva, called for President Kurmanbek Bakiyev to resign and said she planned to run an interim government for six months to draft a new constitution for the central Asian state.
"We have a caretaker government now in place, and I am the head of it," Otunbayeva told Reuters. "It will remain in place for half a year, during which [time] we will draft the constitution and create conditions for free and fair [presidential] elections."...
There seems to be more stability than not, however, if the violence in the streets are to define stability, there is still considerable instability by the Otunbayeva government. I believe it is too early to determine what is the final outcome to the government coup. The violence reveals an uneasiness with the Otunbayeva government by the people. That, to me, does not translate into a successful coup.
