05_KIZ

Note : Ce dossier est le premier volet du dossier relatif à l’insurrection au Kirghizistan. Il se poursuit par un second volet, nommé 05 OUZ 2 - 05-05-13 Andijan, centré sur les émeutes d’Andijan en Ouzbékistan en mai 2005.

http://www.irinnews.org/print.asp?ReportID=45768

BISHKEK, 24 Feb 2005 (IRIN) - With only a couple of days left before parliamentary elections in

Kyrgyzstan

, thousands of people are protesting against the recent court-ordered withdrawal of their candidates.

"We are not seeing the rule of law. We demand free and fair elections," Edil Baisalov, national coordinator of the Coalition for Democracy and Civil Society, a local NGO, told IRIN in the capital, Bishkek, on Thursday.

"I cannot find the legal basis for the court's decision. It was not substantiated," Sergey Slesarev, a lawyer for Arslanbek Maliev, a candidate who was withdrawn from the polls by the decision of a district court on Monday, told IRIN.

Once considered "an island of democracy" in Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan is currently witnessing mass protests organised by supporters of the withdrawn parliamentary candidates.

The mass protests started at the beginning of this week in the north of the former Soviet republic, which has traditionally been seen as the most peaceful region of the country. People expressed their discontent by blocking several strategic roads, including the Bishkek-Torugart, Balykchy-Karakol and Bishkek-Osh highways.

On Thursday morning the number of protesters from Kochkor electoral district in central Naryn province totalled around 1,500. People built yurts (traditional Kyrgyz nomadic tents made of felt) as a symbol of the Kyrgyz love for freedom and completely blocked the Bishkek-Torugart road to China, a vital trade link. As a result, some 70 trucks were stopped. However, protesters allowed several cars carrying children or the elderly to pass through.

"Our main aim is the re-establishment of our candidates. Our rights are not being respected," Kachkyn Bolotov, a protester and rights activist of the Er Aidachy organisation, told IRIN from Kochkor district.

The situation is similar in Ton district, where about 1,000 people are demanding the restoration of the candidacy of Arslanbek Maliev, a moderate opposition figure. The protest started on Tuesday, when Maliev was withdrawn from the election by a decision of a district court. Following the ruling, people gathered in front of the district administration building and then blocked the Balykchy-Karakol road with stones and trees.

"People want the akim [governor] of Ton district to resign because everyone knows that Maliev's opponent - Askerbek Aliev - who appealed to the court is the alim's brother," Mambetamin Omurakunov of the Coalition for Democracy and Civil Society told IRIN from Balykchy.

Mass protests were also organised in the south. "In [southern] Aksy district there was a big meeting, as well as in Kerben," Baisalov said.

Last week there was a meeting in the southwestern city of Batken at which people discussed the elections, the results of privatisation and the fact that most privatised property now belonged to senior government officials, Azamat, who came to Bishkek to see his relatives, told IRIN.

According to the Central Electoral Committee (CEC), 389 parliamentary candidates were registered as of Tuesday, while the number in the previous list was 396. Following accusation of voter bribery by their opponents, seven candidates were withdrawn from the election campaign by district court rulings.

The cases in which candidates have been withdrawn from the polls are very similar. Most of the seven candidates were found guilty of alleged violations of election rules.

"The decisions are unfair. Some of them were taken without the participation of candidates," said Baisalov.

Late on Wednesday, the CEC gave in and restored the candidacy of Sadyr Japarov from Tiup electoral district in northeastern Issykkul province.

Meanwhile, the pro-government Kyrgyzinfo news agency quoted Deputy General Prosecutor Uchkun Karimov as saying that candidates could appeal to the Supreme Court on the issue.

"Our case was transferred to the Supreme Court only on Wednesday at around eight o'clock in the evening. We hope that in two days we will get the answer," lawyer Slesarev told IRIN.

http://www.rfi.fr/francais/actu/articles/062/article_34369.asp

Le président kirghize Askar Akayev multiplie mises en garde et actions préventives.
(Photo: AFP)

Alors que les ex-républiques soviétiques d’Asie centrale entament deux années électorales, leurs dirigeants dénoncent les révolutions qui pourraient être fomentées «de l’extérieur» pour les renverser à cette occasion. À l’instar de celles de Georgie, en 2003, et d’Ukraine, en décembre dernier.

Pas une semaine ne se passe sans qu’un chef d’État d’Asie centrale ne dénonce les risques de «révolution de velours» dans sa république. Les exemples géorgiens et ukrainiens sont dans toutes les têtes. Une véritable obsession. Surtout au Kazakhstan, en Ouzbékistan et au Kirghizstan. Dans ce dernier pays de cinq millions d’habitants, les élections législatives du 27 février sont jugées de première importance. À cause de cette «menace», c’est tout le Kirghizistan qui vit à l’heure révolutionnaire. Les journaux spéculent sur la couleur que prendra ladite révolution, en référence à celle, orange, qui a secoué l’Ukraine en novembre-décembre dernier. À moins qu’elle ne porte le nom d’une fleur, les tulipes dit-on, comme celle «des roses» en Géorgie en novembre 2003.

C’est surtout le président Askar Akaïev qui, depuis qu’Edouard Chevardnadzé a été contraint à la démission, multiplie mises en garde et actions préventives. Le leader kirghize prétend écrire un livre où il analyse «la technologie de la révolution des roses géorgienne». La chose est plausible tant il semble avoir saisi, plus finement que ses homologues de la région, le fonctionnement desdites révolutions.

Askar Akaïev, qui fut au milieu des années 90 considéré comme un exemple de président démocrate en Asie centrale, rappelle notamment que les cas géorgien et ukrainien n’ont été possibles que parce que les «bases de la démocratie» y existaient, comme au Kirghizstan. «Je suis sûr qu’elles [ce qu’il appelle les «technologies»] ne marcheront pas au Turkménistan.» Saparmurat Niazov, président à vie d’un pays qui compte parmi les plus dictatoriaux et fermes du monde, peut dormir tranquille.

Le chef d’État kirghize a certainement raison. Ces «révolutions», aussi encouragées soient-elles par des organisations non gouvernementales (ONG) souvent américaines, comme le National Democratic Institute (NDI) ou la Freedom House, supposent un réel mécontentement social, l’existence d’un minimum de société civile, un pouvoir prêt à se plier au moins partiellement aux exigences internationales en termes d’élections, une opposition qui n’a pas été réduite à néant etc. La théorie du complot pur et simple ne tient pas.

On comprend donc d’autant moins la peur d’un Islam Karimov, président de l’Ouzbékistan. Toute opposition et presse libre ont été supprimées dans le pays. Plusieurs ONG étrangères, déjà rares, ont dû mettre la clef sous la porte. À commencer par l’Open Society Institute du milliardaire américain George Soros, en avril 2004. Une décision manifestement prise après la «Révolution des roses» ou la fondation Soros avait joue un grand rôle. Elle a eu récemment des soucis similaires, n’allant pas jusqu’a la fermeture, au Kazakhstan et au Tadjikistan. Comme la plupart des autres républiques centre-asiatiques, l’Ouzbékistan a durci les conditions d’enregistrement des ONG.

À l’approche de nouvelles échéances électorales, notamment des présidentielles, cet automne et en 2006, les dirigeants de la zone donnent un tour de plus en plus anti-démocratique à leur mandat. Interdiction de partis politiques, manoeuvres visant à les diviser comme au Kazakhstan ce mois-ci, voire emprisonnement d’opposants politiques. Mainmise accrue sur les médias, soit par fermeture, soit par prise de contrôle financière. Restriction du droit de manifester.

Sur la scène internationale, ces craintes conduisent les dirigeants d’Asie centrale à resserrer leurs liens avec la Russie. Moscou étant soucieuse d’arrêter l’hémorragie et de perdre de l’influence dans son «étranger proche». Depuis une bonne année, les organisations qu’elle promeut et qui regroupent des pays de la région fonctionnent réellement. Citons l’Organisation de coopération de Shanghai (dont fait partie la Chine), la Communauté des États indépendants ou l’Organisation du traité de sécurité collective.

De leur côté, les Etats-Unis perdent du terrain, gagné en 2001 lors de l’intervention en Afghanistan. Ce mois-ci, le Kirghizistan a, par exemple, répondu par la négative à une requête de Washington de pouvoir poser des avions espions Awacs sur la base de Manas, occupée par l'armée américaine depuis 2001, à 25 km de Bichkek, la capitale.

«Je me demande si l’Occident ne va pas trop vite avec ces pays, explique Boris Petric, chercheur au CNRS et spécialiste de l’Asie centrale, on leur demande de changer du tout au tout en quelques années. La présence d’un très grand nombre d’ONG étrangères sur leur sol pourraient être ressenties comme une ingérence et finir par susciter un rejet total.»

http://www.rfi.fr/francais/actu/articles/062/article_34399.asp

Le président Akayev a de bonnes raisons de s’inquiéter d’une possible révolution chez lui.
(Photo: AFP)

Ce dimanche, le Kirghizstan élisait ses 75 députés. Le scrutin inquiète le président Askar Akaïev. Contesté notamment pour la corruption dont profite son clan, il sait qu’une «révolution non violente» peut être organisée dans cette ancienne République soviétique d’Asie centrale, en particulier à la faveur de la présidentielle d’octobre ou il ne devrait pas se représenter.

Ces derniers jours, le pouvoir kirghize semblait paniquer. A l’approche des législatives du 27 février, le président Akaïev a durci le ton. Des radios ont été empêchées d’émettre, l’imprimerie de la presse d’opposition a été mystérieusement privée d’électricité, des candidats ont été rayés des listes…Voilà près d’un an et demi, depuis la «Révolution des roses» géorgienne, qu’Askar Akaïev met en garde contre ces «technologies financées de l’extérieur» qui sévissent dans l’ancien espace soviétique. De fait, ces inquiétudes sont justifiées. Le scrutin de ce dimanche a des airs de répétition, avant la présidentielle d’octobre prochain où le président Akaïev, 61 ans, a répété qu’il ne se représenterait pas.

Elu en 1991, Askar Akaïev ne peut légalement pas briguer un troisième mandat. Son bilan contrasté en fait un «candidat» pour une «révolution non violente» sur le modèle de celles qui ont chassé du pouvoir le Serbe Slobodan Milosevic, en 2000, le Géorgien Edouard Chevardnadze, en novembre 2003, et l’Ukrainien Leonid Koutchma, en décembre dernier. Sans doute que là non plus, dans cette ancienne République soviétique d’Asie centrale située à la frontière chinoise, les Etats-Unis ne verraient pas d’un mauvais oeil une «transition du pouvoir non violente» en faveur d’un dirigeant pro-occidental. Ils disposent d’une base militaire sur place depuis l’intervention en Afghanistan de 2001.

En se comportant comme un démocrate dans les années 90, ce qui lui a valu le soutien des puissances occidentales et des grandes organisations internationales, Askar Akaïev n’a pas fait du Kirghizstan une dictature comme c’est le cas en Ouzbékistan et au Turkménistan voisins. Et cela, malgré le net tournant autoritaire d’après 1999 et notamment l’emprisonnement de Félix Koulov, le principal rival du président. «Toutefois, le Kirghizistan demeure relativement tolérant et fort peu policier tout en ayant su préserver la stabilité», explique l’écrivain René Cagnat, ancien attaché de défense français dans la région, désormais installé dans le pays. Pour autant, la corruption dont l’entourage présidentiel ne s’est pas privé ont fait d’Akaïev un nom souvent haï par les cinq millions d’habitants de la République marquée par la pauvreté.

Les Kirghizes vivent en moyenne avec 40 euros par mois. Ces dernières semaines, les articles de la presse d’opposition concernant la corruption ont causé du tort au pouvoir. Notamment ceux du journal MSN, aujourd’hui poursuivi en diffamation. «Il faut préciser que les médias d’opposition, à l’image de ceux qui soutiennent le pouvoir, ont souvent des pratiques bien peu conformes a la déontologie du journalisme», fait remarquer Nicolas Ebnother, qui dirige Internews au Kirghizstan, une organisation américaine qui assure une formation au journalisme et surveille le déroulement de la campagne au plan médiatique.

Le président Akaïev a de bonnes raisons de s’inquiéter d’une possible révolution chez lui. Les ingrédients de la recette qui ont renversé ses homologues serbe, géorgien et ukrainien apparaissent peu a peu. La volonté internationale de contraindre Bichkek à ne pas frauder, ce qui pourrait lui coûter le pouvoir, s’affirme de plus en plus. Ce qui vaut a l’ambassadeur des Etats-Unis au Kirghizstan, Stephen Young, de régulières remontrances des autorités kirghizes. L’OSCE (Organisation pour la sécurité et la coopération en Europe) déploie 200 observateurs. Les organisations, américaines notamment, qui soutiennent le déroulement «libre et transparent» du scrutin, comme pour les trois révolutions mentionnées, sont a l’œuvre, la Freedom House ou le National Democratic Institute entre autres. Officiellement il ne s’agit que d’encourager des élections propres. Mais ce sont elles qui aident, financièrement et techniquement, un puissant rassemblement d’organisations non gouvernementales kirghizes, la Coalition pour la démocratie et la société civile, également chargée de surveiller le vote. Un mouvement étudiant, Kel Kel, aux étranges airs du Kmara géorgien ou du Pora ukrainien vient également de se créer.

Apprendront-ils la leçon des fameux étudiants d’Otpor, ce mouvement serbe qui fut l’un des principaux artisans de la chute de Slobodan Milosevic ? «Je veux les faire venir pour des raisons humanitaires», reconnaît Edil Baisalov, le jeune et enthousiaste président de la Coalition pour la démocratie et la société civile. «Il s’agit que le sang ne coule pas et que nous sachions conduire un mouvement parfaitement pacifiste. Je suis en train de chercher de l’argent pour qu’ils assurent des formations ici», ajoute-t-il.

Tous ces ingrédients ne permettent pas d’affirmer catégoriquement qu’une révolution non violente renversera le clan Akaïev dont plusieurs représentants se présentent aux élections, à commencer par la fille et le fils du président. «Le courage et l’intelligence de notre opposition, estime Edil Baisalov, vont jouer un rôle capital.» La nécessaire unité de l’opposition est l’une des principales inconnues de l’avenir kirghize. Des figures émergent. Comme celle de l’ancien Premier ministre Kurmanbek Bakiev. Du coté du pouvoir comme de ses opposants, chacun a manifestement bien étudié le fonctionnement des «révolutions de velours». Si grande bataille il doit y a voir, ce sera probablement pour la présidentielle d’octobre.

http://www.irinnews.org/print.asp?ReportID=45962

JALAL-ABAD, 7 Mar 2005 (IRIN) - Angry protests continued in the southern Kyrgyz city of Jalal-Abad on Monday, as thousands of people - supporters of opposition candidates who ran for parliament from the area - called for the resignation of Kyrgyz President Askar Akaev and a re-run to last week's parliamentary elections.

Daily life has been at a standstill in the provincial capital for four days after protesters wearing rose coloured bows and scarves occupied three storeys of the region's main administration building. On windows left open, demands written on the same colour cloth calling for the country's leadership to resign fluttered in the breeze, as did demands for a free and fair run-off election on 13 March. Orozaly Karasartov, a spokesman for the provincial governor, told IRIN that almost all officials in the building had left their offices.

While pink was the colour of the People's Movement of Kyrgyzstan (PMK), uniting nine opposition parties and groups in the former Soviet republic, protesters were not rallying in favour of a particular candidate who failed, but rather against vote-fixing and election irregularities, movement activists told IRIN.

The protests were yet another sign of increased tension spreading in the mountainous Central Asian state over the 27 February polls. Government-backed candidates generally fared well in the polls, which outside observers, including the Organization for Security and Cooperation for Europe (OSCE), believe fell short of international standards.

On Thursday, a small explosive device was thrown at the Bishkek apartment of prominent Kyrgyz opposition leader Roza Otunbaeva, the co-leader of the opposition Ata-Jurt (Fatherland) movement and a former foreign minister. Although no injuries were reported in the blast, speaking at a news conference later, Otunbaeva suggested a possible government connection.
"This is an attempt by the authorities to intimidate the opposition," she told IRIN in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek. "Behave yourself, otherwise things could get worse. They are warning."

Otunbaeva, an outspoken critic the president, had along with other prominent opposition members been barred from running in the election, with authorities claiming she was ineligible because she had not resided continuously in the country over the last five years.

On Sunday, about 1,000 people in Kyrgyzstan's eastern Naryn province blocked a key road connecting the province to Bishkek, Radio Free Europe reported. The demonstrators were protesting against a decision by the local election commission to bar an opposition candidate from running in the second round of balloting.

They demanded that candidate Ishenbai Kadyrbekov be allowed to run in the 13 March second round of parliamentary elections.
The local election commission had barred Kadyrbekov from running, saying his campaign team broke election rules. Kadyrbekov is appealing the commission decision and a court was due to consider the appeal on Monday.

Meanwhile, on the same day, it remained unclear where events in Jalal-Abad were actually leading. "I don't understand what happened to us," Abduhalil, an elderly, local Uzbek observing the protests told IRIN. "Nobody wants to give in."
Others, however, sympathised with the protesters. "There is no smoke without fire," Sarybai Atabaev, a former teacher, told IRIN.

Jalil Saparov, a journalist with the local Ferghana newspaper, told IRIN that the root cause of the tension was heavy interference by the authorities in the elections. "This, coupled with rampant corruption which is in every government organisation, skyrocketing unemployment and other social problems, fuels the protest's mood," he explained.

Although police units from neighbouring provinces had been sent to Jalal-Abad, analysts said that the authorities would try and ease the situation without violence.

http://www.politinfo.com/articles/article_2005_03_8_5352.html

Kyrgyzstan

’s opposition parties are stepping up their protests over the results of the first round of parliamentary elections on 27 February. Opposition parties are calling for annulment of the results of the ballot and demanding early presidential elections.

More people are reportedly making their way to the protests that have been under way in

Kyrgyzstan

for several days now.

In the protests, demonstrators have occupied government buildings in two places -- one in the capital of the southern oblast of Jalal-Abad, the other in the southern oblast of Osh . They have also blocked a key road in the east of the country.

One of the biggest demonstration is in Jalal-Abad, where 3,000 protesters have taken to the streets. There the demonstrators accuse local authorities of rigging the first round of the parliamentary election to assure the defeat of a popular opposition candidate.

In recent days, the Jalal-Abad protest has grown to include other demands as well. They include calls for local officials and for President Askar Akaev to leave office.

"Akaev go away! Akaev go away! Out with the governor! Out with the mayor!" protesters chanted.

In Jalal-Abad, protesters have occupied the provincial administration building since 4 March. Jalal-Abad Governor Jusupbek Sharipov said on 5 March that he ordered his staff to evacuate the building for their safety.

"Today, at around 2 p.m. or 3 p.m., the protesters entered to the [Jalal-Abad Oblast-administration office] a second time. Then we had to order our staff there to leave the premises in order to avoid any harm to them," Sharipov said.

The Jalal-Abad governor accused the demonstrators of being paid to participate in the protests. He said the organizers were those who lost in the first round of elections, hinting personal motives were the reason for calling for the protests.

Raising the stakes in Jalal-Abad, former Prime Minister and current leader of the opposition People’s Movement of Kyrgyzstan election bloc Kurmanbek Bakiev joined the protesters on 6 March. It was Bakiev’s first public appearance at a protest and is significant because he is the leader of the biggest opposition bloc in the country.

Bakiev is running for a seat in parliament in another district and faces a runoff in the second round of parliamentary elections on 13 March. He has stated he will also run for the nation’s top post in presidential elections scheduled for October.

Events in Jalal-Abad have been partly mirrored in the Uzgen district of Osh Oblast. There some 300 protesters were occupying the district administrative building.

In the eastern Naryn Oblast, demonstrators continue to block the Bishkek-Torugart highway that links

Kyrgyzstan

China

. Protesters have set up yurts, the traditional felt tents of steppe nomads, on the highway, stopping traffic near the village of Karachiy .

The protest in Naryn started before the first round of elections when people feared a rigged poll was coming. They received new momentum last week. The local election commission barred opposition candidate Ishenbai Kadyrbekov from competing in the second round of elections. The reason -- his supporters continued to campaign for the candidate after the campaigning period officially ended.

The prolonged demonstration involved about 1,500 people. It prompted a visit from oblast Governor Shamshybek Medetbekov on 6 March. He met with protesters and promised to ensure that local authorities reviewed Kadyrbekov’s case. But the visit did not succeed in convincing the demonstrators to remove the road block.

The demonstrations in

Kyrgyzstan

started haphazardly but are gradually becoming more organized. Opposition groups like the People’s Movement of Kyrgyzstan and the Ata-Jurt movement have sent representatives to areas where protests are under way. The degree of coordination between these areas is still unclear.

But hanging over all these events is the memory of the March 2002 tragedy in the Aksy district of Jalal-Abad Oblast. Thousands of people demonstrated in support of a jailed opposition member of parliament. Police fired on the crowd, killing at least five people.

In the days that followed,

Kyrgyzstan

first saw the tactic of blocking key roads. This proved a particularly effective means of protest in a country that is more than 90 percent mountainous. These protests eventually brought down the government and gave the people a new sense of strength. They are testing this strength again now.

But this time, protesters have carefully avoiding provoking conflict. The authorities seem equally wary of letting the situation get out of hand.

Prime Minister Nikolai Tanaev indicated on 5 March that authorities would not give in to provocations, but also would not forget what is happening now. "In order to avoid any excesses, which would lead to unexpected consequences, we are playing a waiting game," Tanaev said. "Those involved in these processes [protests], of course, will be brought to justice."

Presidential press secretary Abdil Segizbaev said yesterday that there was no need to declare a state of emergency.

Protests between rounds of Kyrgyz parliamentary elections are nothing new. There was great opposition activity between the two rounds of the 2000 elections. Protests continued after the last elections too, but historically they have faded after a couple of weeks.

The task for Kyrgyz authorities now is preventing the public from perceiving the coming second round as strongly biased and inciting them to more massive demonstrations.

Author: Bruce Pannier (RFE/RL)

http://www.bassirat.net/news/read_news.php?n=1938#

Des hommes âgés discutent et mangent du pays à proximité d’un bâtiment officiel occupé par des manifestants qui accusent le gouvernement de fraudes électorales. Ils demandent que le candidat qu’ils soutiennent puisse part

Vingt députés de la chambre basse du Parlement kirghize ont appelé jeudi le président kirghize à avancer de trois mois la date des élections présidentielles et d’annuel les législatives en raison du climat qui a entouré la campagne électorale.

Dans un communiqué, les députés de l’opposition accusent le pouvoir d’avoir enfreint les lois kirghizes en excluant du scrutin des candidats de l’opposition, en faisant pression sur les électeurs et en monopolisant les médias. Ils demandent au président Akaev d’organiser l’élection présidentielle, prévue pour le mois d’octobre, en juillet. Ils souhaitent également que l’actuel Parlement reste en fonction jusqu’en novembre.

Par ailleurs, des mouvements pacifiques d’occupation de locaux administratifs et de blocage de routes sont menés par des protestants qui refusent de reconnaître la légalité du scrutin et qui appellent les autorités à démissionner.

Dans l’oblast de Djalalabad, au sud du pays, près de 3 000 personnes ont envahi le siège de l’administration locale et l’occupent depuis le 4 mars pour protester contre des malversations électorales qui ont écarté du second tour le candidat de l’opposition. Les manifestants, qui ont reçu la visite de Kurmanbek Bakiev, figure de l’opposition et candidat déclaré aux présidentielles d’octobre prochain, ont également réclamé la démission du gouverneur de l’oblast, du maire et du président Akaev et appelé à la tenue d’élections présidentielles anticipées. Les événements de l’oblast ont fait tâche d’huile dans le district d’Uzgen de l’oblast d’Osh (sud) où 300 personnes occupent un bâtiment officiel.

Dans l’est du pays, environ 1 500 manifestants ont bloqué la route reliant la capitale kirghize à la Chine à hauteur du village de Karachiy. Cette route est la principale artère commerciale du pays. Ils protestent contre une décision de la commission électorale locale qui a décidé d’invalider la candidature d’Ishenbai Kadyrbekov, un candidat communiste qui est parlementaire depuis dix ans, sous prétexte que ses partisans ont continué de faire campagne en sa faveur au-delà la période légale. Ishenbai Kadyrbekov est également coupable, aux yeux de la commission, d’avoir participé à une manifestation interdite à Bichkek au début du mois de mars.

Les partisans de M. Kadyrbekov ont néanmoins levé leur barrage, libérant ainsi près de 800 véhicules bloqués depuis plusieurs jours. Toutefois, ils envisagent de bloquer à nouveau la route si leur candidat n’obtient pas le droit de se présenter dimanche au second tour.

Même s’il apparaît que ces mouvements s’organisent (timidement) avec l’aide des partis d’opposition, le régime Akaev a décidé de ne pas intervenir dans l’immédiat [1]. Il garde certainement en mémoire les événements d’Ak-Sui [2], dans le sud du pays. Il sait également qu’il garde une solide marge de manœuvre dans l’optique des échéances électorales à venir. En effet, les médias de masse sont contrôlés par le pouvoir et l’opposition semble incapable de présenter un visage uni, ses principales figures ayant des difficultés à mettre de côté leur destin personnel. Ainsi, les mouvements de protestation se cristallisent sur des questions locales et l’opposition ne semble pas en mesure de mener des actions importantes dans la capitale kirghize.

[1] Le 5 mars, le Premier ministre Nikolai Tanaev a promis de poursuivre en justice les personnes impliquées dans les différentes manifestations.

[2] Des émeutes ont fait cinq morts et des dizaines de blessés en mars 2002. Les troubles ont commencé avec la condamnation pour corruption d’Azimbek Beknazarov, opposant membre du parlement kirghize. Celui-ci était contre la décision du gouvernement kirghize de céder 100 000 hectares du territoire national à la Chine.

Puis, en novembre 2002, des protestations ont repris en raison de l’inéligibilité qui a frappé Usen Sydykov, un candidat à l’élection législative en lice à Kara-Kulja. Après être arrivé en tête au premier tour, Usen Sydykov a été écarté du scrutin par le gouvernement à cause d’irrégularités présumées. Ses partisans sont descendus dans la rue et ont décidé de marcher sur la capitale Bichkek.

http://www.lemonde.fr/web/imprimer_element/0,40-0@2-3216,50-630240,0.html

L'opposition du Kirghizstan a enregistré un véritable revers lors du deuxième tour des législatives, dimanche 13 mars 2005, auquel 59 % des électeurs ont participé. Selon la commission électorale centrale, elle n'a remporté que 6 des 75 sièges que compte le Parlement monocaméral, alors qu'elle en détenait 20 dans la chambre précédente. Celle-ci était d'ailleurs considérée comme relativement indépendante comparé aux normes en vigueur dans les ex-républiques soviétiques d'Asie centrale.

"Ce n'était pas une élection, mais de l'achat de votes. Nous, dans l'opposition, ne reconnaissons pas les résultats", a déclaré Emil Aliev, l'un des dirigeants du parti Ar-Nayms (Dignité). "Nous travaillerons avec la population pour encourager la société à invalider ces élections", a-t-il ajouté.

Seules deux des principales figures de l'opposition ont pu entrer au Parlement : Omourbek Tekebaïev, un ancien candidat à la présidence de la République, et Azimbek Beknazarov dont l'arrestation controversée en 2002 avait provoqué d'importants troubles dans le sud du pays. De son côté, le leader d'un autre mouvement de l'opposition, le Mouvement populaire du Kirghizstan, Kourmanbek Bakiev, a connu une cuisante défaite, arrivant avec 20 points d'écart derrière son rival.

Les analystes soulignent toutefois que de nombreux candidats se présentaient comme indépendants et que la contestation parlementaire pourrait être tout de même un peu supérieure aux attentes. Ces résultats ont provoqué une nouvelle vague de protestations dans le sud du pays, sans pour autant toucher Bichkek, la capitale.

Quelque 3 000 personnes manifestaient lundi à Jelalabad, où un autre groupe d'opposants occupe déjà depuis 10 jours le bureau du gouverneur, a raconté un témoin. Trois cents sympathisants de l'opposition se sont aussi rassemblés à Och, principale ville de la région montagneuse d'Aksy qui avait été au cœur des manifestations de 2002. Dans la ville voisine d'Ouzgouen, 200 personnes occupent le bureau du maire et 2 000 personnes manifestaient devant le bâtiment.

Dans la région de Ton, où le premier tour du scrutin le 27 février avait dû être annulé en raison de manifestations, les deux tiers des électeurs ont voté "contre tous" les candidats, rendant nécessaire l'organisation d'un nouveau vote.

La fille du président Askar Akaev, Bermet, membre du parti (favorable au pouvoir en place) Alga Kirghizstan (En avant Kirghizstan) est, quant à elle, arrivée confortablement en tête dans la circonscription de Bichkek où elle se présentait, avec 53,64 % des voix. Son frère Aidar avait été élu au premier tour.

Les législatives ont été vivement critiquées par l'opposition et par les observateurs internationaux qui ont jugé qu'elles n'étaient pas conformes aux normes démocratiques, considérant que tout avait été fait pour aboutir à un renforcement du contrôle du président Akaev sur le Parlement.L'Organisation pour la sécurité et la coopération en Europe (OSCE) a fortement critiqué le deuxième tour. "Certains points qui avaient suscité l'inquiétude lors du premier tour [le 27 février] restent inchangés, notamment le manque d'un accès réel des électeurs à diverses sources d'information [...], l'annulation de l'enregistrement de candidats pour des motifs mineurs", a déclaré Lubomir Kopaj, le chef de la mission d'observation de l'OSCE. Les observateurs, qui avaient jugé le premier tour non conforme aux normes démocratiques, relèvent toutefois une légère amélioration lors du scrutin de dimanche, notant que "le droit de réunion a été respecté de façon plus complète entre les deux tours".

Au pouvoir depuis la fin de l'URSS en 1991, le président a dit qu'il ne se représenterait pas lors de la présidentielle d'octobre 2005. L'opposition a dénoncé son intention d'imposer ses proches pour façonner, selon elle, un Parlement capable de protéger les intérêts de la famille présidentielle.

http://fr.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=427&msg_id=5462607&startrow=1&date=2005-03-15&do_alert=0

Les participants à l'action de protestation au Kirghizistan créent des organes de direction alternatifs

MOSCOU, 15 mars - (RIA-Novosti). Les participants à l'action de protestation à Djalal-Abad (ville kirghize) créent des organes de direction alternatifs.

Des participants à la manifestation de Djalal-Abad ont appris par téléphone au correspondant de RIA-Novosti qu'un kouroultaï (rassemblement) populaire a eu lieu mardi. Les délégués ont été élus par les villes et les conseils villageois.

Le kouroultaï a élu l'homme politique Joussoupbek Jeenbekov au poste de gouverneur du peuple. Dans son discours, il a relevé qu'il envisageait avant tout d'entrer en communication avec les médias afin de faire connaître les décisions du kouroultaï aux habitants de la région. Il a déclaré qu'il aura pour siège une yourte sur la place centrale de la ville, mais qu'ensuite, il envisageait de s'installer au siège de l'administration régionale.

L'action de protestation à Djalal-Abad a commencé le 4 mars, lorsque plusieurs personnes ont fait irruption au siège de l'administration régionale où elles se trouvent jusqu'à présent. Une centaine de citadins passent leurs nuits devant le bâtiment.

Ils exigent l'annulation des résultats des élections législatives qui ont eu lieu dans la république le 13 mars, la démission du président Askar Akaïev et du gouverneur de la région, Djoussoupbek Charipov. Tous les jours, de 1.000 à 3.000 personnes se rassemblent sur la place principale de la ville.

Les représentants régionaux et les leaders des partis et mouvements d'opposition sont arrivés à Djalal-Abad pour participer au kouroultaï.

La police et les troupes de l'Intérieur n'empêchent pas le déroulement de la manifestation.

Les autorités kirghizes n'ont pas encore réagi aux événements qui se déroulent à Djalal-Abad.

Les manifestants ont d'abord exigé la révision des résultats du scrutin. Ensuite, leurs revendications ont changé.

Dans le même temps, les observateurs internationaux qui ont surveillé l'élection au Conseil suprême du Kirghizistan qualifient d'ouvert et de transparent le scrutin. Les quelques violations enregistrées n'ont pas eu d'impact sur les résultats, selon eux.

http://www.irinnews.org/print.asp?ReportID=46136

BISHKEK, 16 Mar 2005 (IRIN) - Opposition protest continued in many parts of Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday, expressing popular discontent with Sunday's run-off polls that have resulted in a strong majority for pro-government parties. The opposition accuses authorities of widespread abuses in the elections, in which President Askar Akayev secured an overwhelmingly loyal parliament.

In the northern town of Talas, a few hundred supporters of Ravshan Dzheyenbekov, a former Akayev loyalist, stopped the local governor from leaving his office. "But he was released late on Tuesday evening," Tolekan Ismailova, head of a local NGO, Civic Society Against Corruption, told IRIN from Talas.

Protesters also occupied a government building in the northeastern town of Kochkor on Wednesday, following similar protests in the southern towns of Jalal-Abad and Ozgon. "Today some 3,000 people attempted to seize the Kochkor district administration building. They demand free and transparent elections," observers from the Democracy and Civil Society NGO, from Naryn province, told IRIN.

International election monitors in Kyrgyzstan said Sunday's run-off elections fell short of minimum international election standards. "Although both rounds of the elections were conducted in a peaceful manner, many violations took place which seriously influenced the outcome of the elections," ENEMO mission head, Peter Novotny, said on Monday. ENEMO is a group of civic organisations from 16 countries of the former Soviet Union and Central Europe that act as election monitoring groups in their countries.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)'s observer mission to Kyrgyzstan said the run-offs had also been marred by significant shortcomings. "The mission noted that some areas of concern remained unchanged from the first round, including lack of effective voter access to diverse sources of information, bias in the media, continued de-registration of candidates on minor grounds, which are within national law but restrict genuine competition, and inaccurate and poorly maintained voter lists."

US Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, Stephen Young, said on Wednesday at a press conference in the capital Bishkek that he was in broad agreement with the OSCE observer mission's findings. "These negative tendencies have damaged Kyrgyzstan's reputation for promoting democracy," Young said.

In Washington a day earlier, the US State Department called on Kyrgyz authorities to investigate allegations of fraud and electoral misconduct promptly and transparently.

Kyrgyz authorities have been careful not to crack down on the protests, perhaps fearing they might spread if they are put down violently. But on Tuesday President Akayev's patience appeared to be wearing thin. "Those who have organised mass public disorder will be brought to justice for creating tension in some regions," he said on state television. Despite the ongoing protests, he ruled out any re-run of the controversial poll. "There will be no different assessment of the elections, the people have spoken through voting," Akayev said.

There has been widespread speculation that Kyrgyzstan could follow the path of other ex-Soviet states like Ukraine and Georgia, where mass protests against flawed elections led to more democratic polls won by Western-orientated leaders.

But opposition groups in Kyrgyzstan remain divided and unable to reach agreement on promoting one leader around whom popular discontent could grow, analysts have said.

http://www3.cjad.com/content/cp_article.asp?id=/global_feeds/CanadianPress/WorldNews/w032008A.htm

At least 10,000 pro-democracy protesters riot in

Kyrgyzstan

, official says

Updated at 9:04 on March 20, 2005 , EST.

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (AP) - At least 10,000 pro-democracy protesters stormed a police station and forced workers to flee a governor's office in Kyrgyzstan on Sunday, a government spokesman said, in the biggest demonstration since allegedly fraudulent elections last month.

The government said it was ready to negotiate with the protesters who have demanded President Askar Akayev's resignation.

"We hope there will be no further violence," presidential aide Abdil Seghizbayev said.

Police fled to the roof of their station, firing shots into the air to deter the stone-throwing protesters in the southern city of Jalal-Abad , regional government spokesman Orazaly Karasartov said.

He said smoke could be seen rising from the police station and that protesters broke windows.

Local civic activist Cholpon Ergesheva said 20,000 people were taking part in the protests and that the demonstrators had taken over the governor's office in Jalal-Abad. She said two of the police station's three buildings were on fire.

The riot was the latest in a string of nationwide protests sparked by the Feb. 27 parliamentary elections in which President Akayev's allies fared overwhelmingly well. Critics claim the vote and a subsequent runoff election were marred by widespread abuses.

Europe and the

United States

said the polls were seriously flawed, a charge denied by the government.

Sunday's riot came a day after police forcibly evicted demonstrators from the governor's office in Jalal-Abad and another government building in the city of Osh . More than a dozen people, including three police officers, were injured and more than 200 demonstrators were arrested, police and civic activists said.

Protesters were still occupying five other state buildings in southern and western districts.

Street rallies across the country have also increasingly gained momentum. On Saturday, about 8,000 protested in three cities.

"The authorities' decision to use force against people won't bring any good. It will only provoke anger," said Kurmanbek Bakiyev, leader of the opposition People's Movement of Kyrgyzstan, after the forced evictions.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe issued a statement Sunday, urging the government and the opposition to refrain from using force and to begin a dialogue.

Some analysts have suggested Kyrgyzstan is ripe for an outburst of the mass protests experienced by other post-Soviet countries, such as last year's mass demonstrations after fraud-marred elections in Ukraine and the 2003 "Rose Revolution" in Georgia that brought down Eduard Shevardnadze.

http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=45797

Over 300 opposition supporters have stormed the interior department headquarters in Dzhalal Abad in southern

Kyrgyzstan

, Russian media reported Sunday. They are demanding the president's resignation. Photo by akipress.org

Ten people have died in the anti-government protests in

Kyrgyzstan

on Sunday, according to preliminary reports.

At least 10,000 pro-democracy protesters stormed a police station in Dzhalal Abad , south

Kyrgyzstan

, forcing workers to flee a governor's office, government spokesman said, in the biggest demonstration since allegedly fraudulent elections last month.

The protesters broke the doors open, throwing bottles filled with flammable liquid into the windows. The one-storied building accommodating the police headquarters and the local administration has caught fire.

The government said it was ready to negotiate with the protesters who have demanded President Askar Akayev's resignation.

The tension in the country escalated after the final results of the parliamentary elections were announced, giving a 90% victory to pro-governmental party, which was disapproved by the opposition formations.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7953136

DZHALAL ABAD,

Kyrgyzstan

(Reuters) - Thousands of people stormed government buildings on Sunday and at least four policemen were reported beaten to death as protests against President Askar Akayev swelled in southern

Kyrgyzstan

Akayev warned last week that any attempt to copy the "Orange Revolution" in

Ukraine

, another ex-Soviet state, could lead to civil war.

But Prime Minister Nikolai Tanayev said the government wanted a peaceful resolution: "We have never gone against our own people, especially not with weapons in our hands."

The opposition, protesting against what it says were rigged parliamentary elections, effectively seized control of the southern Kyrgyz town of Dzhalal Abad , following protests on Friday in nearby Osh , and in two other regions in the south.

A police source in the capital Bishkek said four policemen had been beaten to death in Dzhalal Abad in clashes that erupted after police fired shots but failed to stop the demonstrators.

"The police opened fire, and I saw with my own eyes that four people got hit by ricochets," said demonstrator Abdul Kambarov, his cheek cut and trousers ripped.

"I was sitting on the main staircase when the special forces stormed the building. I grabbed the legs of one of them as he was running up stairs and another one beat me in the face with a rubber truncheon," said Dzhumakhan Amadalyeva, 59, her face heavily bruised.

Protesters later surged back to the building, the city's main administration building. Amateur video showed a police chief asking the crowd to let his forces, mostly inexperienced young men, to leave the scene unharmed. Protesters formed a corridor to let them out but made them leave riot gear behind.

Government buildings were burning and streets were strewn with broken glass -- caused, witnesses said, by protesters throwing petrol bombs to force police to leave the town.

By late evening, drunken youths were roaming the streets and there was no sign of police or troops.

Protests against the results of parliamentary elections, which international observers criticized as flawed and in which the opposition was routed, have largely been confined to the south but have become increasingly bloody.

There is strong resentment in the mostly ethnic-Uzbek south of the mountainous country against the wealthier north, dominated by ethnic Kyrgyz. Osh was the scene of bloody ethnic clashes in the 1980s and 1990s.

"We want Akayev to understand what's going on. Either he resigns now or he gives us an assurance he will resign in October," said Bektur Asanov, a losing candidate in the poll.

"We have now paralyzed the regional authorities. We are demanding that the Supreme Court makes a decision like it did in Ukraine (where the election result last December was overturned because of fraud)," he said.

Prime Minister Tanayev said he had spoken to Asanov and both had agreed to hold talks and try to end the dispute with "civilized methods."

"In the police we have no rubber bullets, no gas. We don't even have enough truncheons. Not the president, not me, and not the interior minister will allow weapons to be used against our own people," he told local television.

The opposition says Akayev could use his majority in parliament, which includes two of his children, to change the law and stand for a third term in elections later this year.

Akayev, a physicist seen as the most liberal of the presidents in the five former Soviet republics of Central Asia , has said he will stand down when his final term ends.

Monitors from the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) criticized the parliamentary poll, held in two rounds in February and March -- pointing to vote buying, disqualification of opposition figures and media manipulation.

The OSCE and the

U.S.

ambassador to Kyryzstan both appealed on Sunday for talks between the two sides to calm the stand-off.

Kyrgyzstan

is the third ex-Soviet state to see protests over election results, following revolutions in

Ukraine

and

Georgia

Kyrgyzstan

borders

Uzbekistan

Tajikistan

Kazakhstan

and

China

. Its 5 million people are Muslims and have mostly lived in poverty since the economy collapsed in the 1990s

http://www.lemonde.fr/web/imprimer_element/0,40-0@2-3216,50-630240,0.html

Une semaine après le second tour des élections législatives au Kirghizstan, république ex-soviétique de 5 millions d'habitants frontalière de la Chine, des heurts violents se sont produits, dimanche 20 mars 2005, entre les forces de l'ordre et des manifestants réclamant la démission du chef de l'Etat, Askar Akaev, au pouvoir depuis 1990. Les incidents se sont produits dans deux villes du sud du pays, Och et Djelalabad, où la police a lancé, dimanche matin, des assauts contre des groupes d'opposants ayant pris le contrôle de plusieurs bâtiments administratifs. Près de 200 personnes auraient été arrêtées. La situation restait tendue, lundi matin, l'opposition au président Akaev ayant annoncé de nouvelles manifestations.

A Djelalabad, environ 2 000 opposants ont fait irruption dimanche dans un commissariat pour libérer une trentaine de personnes qui avaient été détenues dans la matinée. Armés de bâtons, de pierres et de cocktails Molotov, les protestataires ont utilisé un autobus pour pénétrer dans le périmètre de sécurité du commissariat, auquel ils ont mis le feu. Selon des sources policières citées par Interfax, les affrontements auraient fait une dizaine de morts, mais les informations à ce sujet restaient contradictoires. L'opposition au régime de M. Akaev, au pouvoir depuis 1990, a affirmé dimanche que quatre personnes étaient décédées à l'hôpital d'Och, des suites de leurs blessures.

A Bichkek, la capitale, située dans le nord, les autorités ont démenti que les forces de l'ordre aient ouvert le feu contre des manifestants. "La police n'était pas armée", a affirmé le premier ministre kirghize, Nikolaï Tanaev, ajoutant que des "négociations" allaient s'ouvrir avec l'opposition.

Celle-ci estime que les élections législatives lui ont été"volées", n'ayant obtenu que 6 sièges sur 75 au Parlement. L'opposition est emmenée par deux anciens dignitaires du régime de M. Akaev, qui dénoncent le glissement autoritaire du pouvoir depuis plusieurs années, et disent vouloir s'inspirer de la"révolution orange"en Ukraine : il s'agit de l'ancien premier ministre Kourmanbek Bakiev et de l'ancienne ministre des affaires étrangères Rosa Otounbaeva.

Au lendemain des élections législatives tenues au Kirghizstan le 27 février et le 13 mars, les chefs de file de l'opposition avaient décidé de regrouper leurs partisans dans le sud du pays, organisant un "kouroultaï" (assemblée) pour désigner un pouvoir local alternatif. Vendredi 18 mars, alors que des milliers de personnes étaient rassemblées sur la place centrale d'Och, et que des manifestants avaient pris le contrôle de bâtiments administratifs dans plusieurs localités, les chefs de l'opposition déclaraient que "les forces de l'ordre se rangeaient de -leur- côté". Dimanche, le pouvoir central a tenté de reprendre le contrôle de ces régions en ordonnant à la police d'intervenir.

A Bichkek, la mission de l'Organisation pour la sécurité et la coopération en Europe (OSCE), qui avait dénoncé de nombreuses irrégularités lors du scrutin législatif, a appelé le pouvoir kirghize et les forces d'opposition à "prévenir une escalade de la violence" et à "ouvrir un dialogue". L'ambassadeur des Etats-Unis au Kirghizstan, dont les services avaient fourni une aide importante à des médias et à des ONG d'opposition pendant la campagne électorale, a exprimé sa "préoccupation" après les incidents violents.

A Moscou, le vice-président de la Douma, Oleg Morozov, a mis en garde contre la répétition au Kirghizstan d'un scénario semblable à ceux qui ont abouti au renversement de régimes en Géorgie et en Ukraine, "par des moyens illégaux".

http://www.lemonde.fr/web/imprimer_element/0,40-0@2-3216,50-630240,0.html

Le président du Kirghizstan, Askar Akaev, dont le pouvoir fait face à un mouvement de contestation croissant, s'est dit prêt, lundi 21 mars 2005, à ouvrir des discussions avec l'opposition passée maître de deux villes importantes du sud du pays. "La direction du pays est prête à des discussions avec l'opposition à tout moment", a déclaré le porte-parole de la présidence, Abdil Seguizbaïev, à la télévision nationale.

Tout en maintenant selon l'agence russe Itar-Tass que les législatives de février-mars qui ont déclenché le mouvement de contestation s'étaient déroulées le plus souvent "dans le strict respect de la loi", M. Akaev a ordonné de mener des enquêtes sur "toute forme d'irrégularité survenue dans le processus électoral", selon M. Seguizbaïev. Il faut "stabiliser la situation, car les événements dans le sud peuvent avoir des conséquences imprévisibles", a prévenu le représentant de la présidence, reprenant en substance la menace de guerre civile déjà agitée par les autorités.

Des milliers de personnes, qui exigent la démission d'Askar Akaev, ont pris le contrôle des administrations régionales d'Och et de Djelalabad, dans le sud de l'ex-république soviétique d'Asie centrale. Le mouvement s'est durci ces derniers jours, entraînant de violents heurts. Des manifestants ont pris d'assaut, lundi, le bâtiment de l'administration régionale à Och, une des villes les plus importantes du sud, et y ont, selon des témoins, pris aussi le contrôle de l'aéroport. Dimanche, la police a expulsé les protestataires qui occupaient l'administration depuis plusieurs jours, procédant à des dizaines d'arrestations.

Des heurts ont aussi eu lieu, dimanche, à Djelalabad, autre ville importante du sud où les manifestants ont également repris le contrôle de l'administration régionale. Trois mille personnes environ étaient encore rassemblées lundi sur la place principale de la ville. "Notre but est de chasser Akaïev, nous voulons prendre le pouvoir dès que possible", a lancé un orateur juché sur un camion, non loin des ruines du commissariat de police incendié la veille.

L'opposition a mis en doute la perspective de négociations avec le président kirghize. "Akaïev ne nous a pas offert de négocier (directement avec lui). Nous ne négocierons qu'avec le président, parce que c'est lui qui décide de tout", a prévenu le leader du conseil de coordination de l'unité populaire, Kourmanbek Bakiev.

Ce sont les dernières élections législatives qui ont déclenché le mouvement de contestation. L'opposition affirme qu'elles ont été falsifiées pour assurer un Parlement loyal à M. Akaïev à sept mois de la présidentielle. L'OSCE a elle aussi jugé le scrutin biaisé. "Nous en voyons le résultat aujourd'hui", a commenté lundi à Moscou la commissaire aux relations extérieures de l'Union européenne, Benita Ferrero Waldner.

Les dernières législatives ont terni un peu plus l'image du régime d'Akaïev, autrefois considéré comme relativement démocratique par rapport aux normes de l'Asie centrale, et dont le pays abrite à la fois une base militaire russe et une base américaine installée pour intervenir en Afghanistan.

Après la "révolution de la rose" en Géorgie (fin 2003) et "la révolution orange" en Ukraine (fin 2004), une "révolution des tulipes" est maintenant en cours dans un nouveau pays de l'ex-URSS, estimait lundi la presse russe, très attentive aux événements en cours dans l'ancien pré-carré de la Russie. Moscou a du reste exprimé, lundi, son "inquiétude" face aux derniers événements, et a condamné les actions "violentes" et menées "hors du cadre de la loi" par l'opposition. Si elle a gagné en force ces derniers jours au Kirghizstan, la contestation reste cependant fragile et concentrée sur le sud. Dans la capitale Bichkek, elle n'a pu toutefois mobiliser que quelques dizaines de manifestants.

http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav032105_pr.shtml

Eurasia Insight:
REVOLUTIONARY MOMENTUM BUILDS IN SOUTHERN KYRGYZSTAN
3/21/05

President Askar Akayev’s administration appears to be losing its grip on key provinces in southern Kyrgyzstan, as anti-government protesters seized control of the airports in Osh and Jalal-Abad. The heads of law-enforcement bodies in Osh also have reportedly thrown their support behind an opposition-led “People’s Power” shadow government.

Authorities in Bishkek have sent out feelers for a negotiated end to the confrontations in Osh and Jalal-Abad. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Emboldened opposition leaders, however, say they will only enter into talks with Akayev himself. Kurmanbek Bakiyev, the head of an opposition coalition in Bishkek, went on to state that Akayev is reluctant to directly engage in a political dialogue. “The president is still not prepared for negotiations,” Bakiyev told journalists March 21. “Let him show the initiative. If the president warms to the idea of talks, this would be a big plus. If not, this would be a big minus for him and his administration.”

Bakiyev also accused Akayev’s administration of trying to “provoke bloodshed and place the blame on the opposition,” possibly creating a pretext for the introduction of a state of emergency in Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyz officials have adamantly denied any intention to introduce a state of emergency, which would enable the imposition of martial law.

On March 21, the US Embassy joined the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in calling for calm and negotiations. “The [US] Embassy urges both the demonstrators and the government to resolve differences peacefully and with respect for the rule of law,” said a statement issued March 21. An OSCE statement issued the previous day called for an immediate dialogue.

While dodging dialogue, Akayev appeared to be probing for ways to slow the opposition’s momentum. On March 21, the president sought to address a central complaint of the protest movement, meeting with the head of the country’s Central Election Commission and Supreme Court and ordering an investigation into alleged voting irregularities connected with the recent parliamentary election. [For additional information see the Eurasia Insight archive]. According to a presidential press service statement, Akayev stressed that “the overwhelming number of electoral contests” during the two rounds of voting – on February 27 and March 13 – “conformed strictly to law and did not raise any doubts,” the AKIpress news agency reported. Akayev added that in electoral districts “where election results provoked extreme public reaction,” voters should know “who is right and who is wrong.”

Some political observers believe that Akayev’s call for an election investigation may be coming too late to mollify protesters. In recent days, demonstrators’ demands for Akayev’s resignation have intensified. Indeed, the fast pace of events in southern Kyrgyzstan -- where anti-government protesters are quickly establishing an alternate authority dubbed People’s Power -- seems to be drastically reducing the president’s room for maneuver.

The confrontation between Akayev and the opposition began brewing in southern cities during the run-up to the February 27 first round of parliamentary voting. [For additional information see the Eurasia Insight archive]. The pace of events accelerated rapidly after March 18, when demonstrators seized the regional administration building in Osh. That day was the third anniversary of the bloody riot in Aksy – an event that is arguably the source of the present confrontation. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

During the early hours of March 20, authorities mounted a special operation to dislodge demonstrators from the government headquarters both in Osh and Jalal-Abad provinces. Security forces regained control of both buildings amid violent confrontations with protesters. However, in both provinces, opposition forces regrouped and re-took the buildings.

Popular passions in both cities were stoked by what opposition leaders characterize as authorities’ brutal behavior during the March 20 confrontations at the government buildings. Initial reports said several protesters had been killed during the special police operations, but, on March 21, opposition leaders confirmed that no deaths had occurred.

Witnesses in Osh claimed some of the security officers who carried out the operation on the regional administrative headquarters were not Kyrgyz. According to Tolekan Ismailova, a civil society activist in Osh, three police paramilitaries in opposition custody had revealed that they were Kazakhstani citizens.

By March 21, the protesters moved swiftly to consolidate their power in both Osh and Jalal-Abad. In Osh, opposition leaders proclaimed a People’s Power government as the provisional authority in the province. In several instances, protesters set fire to portraits of Akayev.

More ominously for the future prospects of Akayev’s administration, law-enforcement officers in southern Kyrgyzstan no longer seem to be following Bishkek’s orders. AKIpress reported that the head of the People’s Power authority in Osh, Anvar Artykov, held talks with regional law-enforcement officials, and received assurances that as of March 22 local security bodies would obey the provisional regional authority. Police in Jalal-Abad have likewise declared their allegiance to People’s Power leaders.

Meanwhile, anti-government forces reportedly seized control of the airports in both Osh and Jalal-Abad – moves apparently designed to make it difficult for the government to dispatch security troops to the two regions. Given that southern Kyrgyzstan is separated from the capital Bishkek by the Tian Shan Mountain Range, Akayev’s administration would face a significant strategic obstacle if it attempted to reassert its authority via an overland operation.

The opposition appears to want to go on the political offensive, with mass protests being planned for Talas and Naryn provinces. Opposition leaders also suggested they may try to carry out a demonstration in Bishkek in the coming days.

With security officials in southern Kyrgyzstan not responding to Bishkek’s directives, Akayev’s chances of reasserting his authority in the region may depend on whether his opponents make a misstep. Given the tenuous nature of the opposition movement’s cohesiveness, such a misstep cannot be ruled out.

Prior the election, Akayev administration officials often exploited the lack of unity among opposition leaders in implementing government policy. The disputed parliamentary election helped forge a united opposition front. Nevertheless, the protesters still have trouble speaking with one voice. For example, while Bakiyev --the titular head of the opposition coalition established shortly before the second round of voting March 13 – has held out the possibility of negotiations with Akayev, another prominent opposition figure, Roza Otunbayeva, announced that talks with the president were no longer possible, and that his resignation was the only possible way out of the crisis.

Meanwhile in Russia, Dmitry Rogozin, a vocal nationalist in the Russian Duma, called on the Kremlin to intervene in the building confrontation. In an interview with Echo Moskvy radio, Rogozin suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s administration should consider the immediate dispatch of a CIS peacekeeping force to southern Kyrgyzstan. Political observers in Bishkek say any effort to deploy CIS peacekeepers would meet with strong resistance from Kyrgyz opposition leaders, who would deem such action as an effort by Moscow to prop up Akayev’s administration and to broaden Russian influence in Kyrgyzstan.

http://www.la-croix.com/afp.static/pages/050321123309.nhzdw4g2.htm

"Nous mettons en place des commissaires du peuple pour préserver l'ordre", lance un leader de l'opposition: en quelques dizaines de minutes, la ville d'Och, au sud du Kirghizstan, a basculé lundi aux mains de ceux qui contestent le régime du président Askar Akaïev et comptent lui succéder.

"Notre tâche est d'éliminer les autorités actuelles", souligne le socialiste Omourbek Tekebaïev, ancien candidat à la présidence et qui ne semble pas renoncer à ses ambitions. La situation a évolué très rapidement à Och, dans le cours de ce que la presse russe a déjà qualifié de "Révolution des tulipes".

Lundi matin, les autorités, visiblement mues par le souci de faire comme si de rien n'était, ont organisé dans le plus pur style soviétique, sur la principale place de la capitale régionale, des célébrations officielles du Nowruz, fête marquant en Asie centrale musulmane à la fois le Nouvel An et le début du printemps.

Mais, le souvenir des heurts de la veille étant bien présent - selon l'opposition, ils auraient fait quatre morts, ce que démentent les autorités - la sécurité est assurée par quelque trois cents policiers anti-émeute munis de leur attirail habituel: matraques, casques et boucliers de plastique. Une heure et demie plus tard, les policiers ont disparu sans faire de bruit, tandis que plusieurs centaines de manifestants prenaient possession du bureau du gouverneur, ainsi que des quartiers généraux de la police municipale et régionale.

"Nous faisons cela ailleurs aussi", a déclaré l'un d'entre eux. Au commissariat municipal, pourtant occupé sans problème, et au siège du Parquet, les manifestants ont brisé les vitres. "Les événements d'hier et d'aujourd'hui ont montré que le peuple est devenu fort", dit M. Tekebaïev, indiquant que des "négociations" étaient en cours avec le pouvoir. Conscient des risques de glissement vers la violence, évidents depuis les affrontements de dimanche, il annonce que l'opposition tâchera de préserver l'ordre public.

"La stabilité a été détruite et personne ne contrôle la situation. Donc nous avons nommé des commissaires du peuple. Et nous garderons en commun (avec les autorités en place) les sites tels que le système d'approvisionnement en eau et les télécommunications", précisé-t-il. "Nous voulons fonctionner dans le cadre légal existant", souligne encore l'opposant.

A Jalal-Abad, autre grande ville du sud passée aux mains de l'opposition, trois mille personnes environ étaient rassemblées lundi sur la place principale de cette cité, devant le bâtiment de l'administration régionale. "Notre but est de chasser (le président Askar) Akaïev", déclarait un orateur juché sur un camion. "Nous voulons prendre le pouvoir dès que possible". Aucun policier n'était visible, et les ruines du commissariat de police situé à proximité, incendié la veille, fumaient encore.

Le Premier ministre kirghize Nikolaï Tanaïev a indiqué à la télévision que les manifestants avaient bloqué l'aéroport de Jalal-Abad, en déversant quelques camions de gravier sur les pistes et en y allumant un feu de vieux pneus, pour éviter que des renforts des services de sécurité n'y débarquent. A Bichkek, un responsable de l'opposition, Kourmanbek Bakiev, a déclaré qu'à Talas, une des villes les plus pauvres du pays, à 400 km à l'ouest de la capitale, le bureau du gouverneur avait également été pris par les manifestants.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,12610011%255E1702,00.html

PROTESTS over

Kyrgyzstan

's disputed parliamentary polls have turned violent, with four people reported killed in a police assault on an occupied government building in the former Soviet republic.

Angered at what they saw as votes rigged to elect supporters of President Askar Akayev, protestors stormed administration buildings in several southern cities in the Central Asian state following the March 13 elections.

Security forces, which had not previously moved against the protestors, staged operations to remove protestors from government offices in Jalal-Abad and Osh , both around 250km southwest of the capital Bishkek, provoking violent clashes.

"Several demonstrators were injured during the assault by special police forces against the headquarters of the Osh regional administration, and four later died in hospital," an official from the opposition Popular Movement told AFP.

However, Kyrgyz State Secretary Osmonakun Ibraimov denied the report, saying that "there are no casualties", only several wounded policemen and "naturally there are injured among the civilians, as the most aggressive protesters attacked the police and probably got a few punches."

"The opposition, those who organise these rallies, profit by spreading such lying rumors, to excite people even further," Mr Ibraimov said in comments broadcast by the Russian Moscow Echo radio station.

In Jalal-Abad, groups of protestors set fire to a police station and stormed the regional governor's offices, as around 10,000 people rallied outside to demand the release of protestors arrested earlier for occupying the building.

Around 2000 protestors armed with sticks, stones and Molotov cocktails and using a bus as a battering ram broke into the police compound next to the office and freed around 30 of the arrested protestors.

With a section of the police compound ablaze, some 700 protestors re-took the governor's office, hanging banners from the windows demanding President Akayev's resignation as they had done for two weeks prior to Sunday's arrests.

Outside in the city's tree-lined main square two cars and a bus were set on fire.

But Jalal-Abad's Deputy Governor Almaz Asanaliyev defended the police's response and said no one had died either in the shooting or subsequent fire.

"We didn't fire at the people... not one person died," Mr Asanaliyev told AFP. "The majority of these people were drunken, hot-tempered young men."

Russian media reported there had been deaths on both sides from the clashes, with

Russia

's Channel 1 speaking of a "possible death toll of 10 to 16".

Interfax news agency, citing law enforcement sources in Jalal-Abad, said the toll could be as high as 10. "For the moment the exact number of dead is not known, but it could be as high as 10."

There was shock among residents of this town of 80,000 people overlooked by the snow-capped Ferghana mountain range.

"It's awful, the police station is still burning - tomorrow there will be more people here," a retired state employee living in a one-storey wood-framed house close to the town square said.

Sunday's events came amid a wave of unrest in this mountainous republic over parliamentary polls that went to a second round on March 13 and that the opposition has accused Mr Akayev's administration of rigging.

Mr Akayev has repeatedly warned of the possibility of civil war in the event of attempts at a Western-backed "people power" uprising of the kind seen in two other former Soviet republics, Georgia and Ukraine, within the last 18 months.

While protests have barely touched the capital, tensions have long run higher in the south of the country, which borders Uzbekistan and saw major inter-ethnic clashes in the Soviet Union's last months in which hundreds died as well as fatal shootings of six protestors allegedly by police in March 2002.

The parliamentary polls have been particularly tense as Akayev, the country's only post-Soviet leader, has vowed to stand down at presidential polls due late this year. Opposition figures suspect he could try to extend his term or hand-pick a successor.

Washington , which has airbases in

Kyrgyzstan

and

Uzbekistan

for use in operations in

Afghanistan

, has urged a democratic handover of power.

http://fr.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=427&msg_id=5469136&startrow=1&date=2005-03-21&do_alert=0

BICHKEK, 21 mars - RIA Novosti. Alors que les manifestations se multiplient dans le midi de la Kirghizie les autorités ont annoncé de leur côté qu'elles n'entendaient pas recourir à la force armée et étaient disposées à négocier avec l'opposition.

Dimanche soir des manifestants réclamant l'annulation des résultats des élections législatives ainsi qu'un changement du pouvoir dans la république ont occupé l'aéroport et la mairie du chef-lieu de région Djalal-Abad.

Les manifestants ont déclaré qu'ils voulaient ainsi empêcher que des avions se posent à Djalal-Abad avec des policiers anti-émeute en provenance de Bichkek.

Le premier ministre Kirghiz, Nikolaï Tanaïev, a confirmé l'occupation de l'aéroport. Quelques heures auparavant, des manifestants avaient pénétré à l'intérieur du siège de la police. Le bâtiment a presque entièrement été détruit par des jets de bouteilles incendiaires.

La situation dans le sud du pays s'est exacerbée tôt dimanche matin après que des policiers anti-émeute aient pris d'assaut les sièges de l'administration d'Och et de la région de Djalal-Abad qui étaient occupés depuis plusieurs jours par des partisans des candidats battus aux élections. A Djalal-Abad et à Och les manifestants occupaient les bâtiments administratifs depuis le 4 et le 18 mars respectivement.

Nikolaï Tanaïev a déclaré que les autorités kirghizes étaient disposées à prendre place à la table de négociation avec les représentants de l'opposition. Selon le premier ministre, il s'est déjà entretenu par téléphone avec l'un des leaders de l'opposition qui actuellement se trouve à Djalal-Abad.

Dans le même temps, le chef du gouvernement kirghiz a fait remarquer que la situation risquait de s'exacerber à Och, la plus grande ville du sud de la république, où l'opposition menace de radicaliser ses actions.

Nikolaï Tanaïev a souligné que les forces de l'ordre qui dimanche à l'aube avaient libéré les bâtiments administratifs à Och et Djalal-Abad étaient désarmées et qu'aucune des personnes se trouvant à l'intérieur de ces bâtiments n'avait été sérieusement blessée.

Les élections législatives en Kirghizie s'étaient déroulées en deux tours le 27 février et le 13 mars. Quelque 400 candidats briguaient les 75 sièges du parlement. 90 pour cent des sièges ont été attribués à des députés pro-gouvernementaux ou indépendants. La fille et le fils du président du pays, Askar Akaïev, ont eux aussi été élus.

http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?sid=9298e759489b997f

Opposition protesters have seized the regional administration building in Osh ,

Kyrgyzstan

's second largest city, the Interfax news agency reported Monday.

About 1,000 protesters stormed the government building, picking up shields dropped by riot police who turned and fled, the BBC reported. Two police reportedly were caught, beaten up and paraded on horseback.

The seizure followed Sunday's riots in the nearby city of Jalal-Abad , in which several thousand protesters burned down a police station and took over the city airport.

Protests have broken out in up to eight cities in the south of the nation, mainly populated by ethnic Uzbeks.

The opposition claims that President Askar Akayev's party used fraud to win the March 13 parliamentary elections and is demanding that he resign.

Prime Minister Nikolai Tanayev said the government was ready to talk to the protesters and promised that force would not be used against them.

However, opposition leader Kurmanbek Bakiyev said Monday in the capital, Bishkek, that neither the president nor governmental representatives had offered to talk with him or any other opposition leader, despite offers to mediate from the

U.S.

and German ambassadors and representatives of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe .

http://fr.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=427&msg_id=5470039&startrow=1&date=2005-03-21&do_alert=0

L'opposition n'a pas l'intention de lancer prochainement d'actions de protestation à Bichkek

BICHKEK, 21 mars - RIA Novosti. L'opposition kirghize n'a pas l'intention de lancer, au cours des deux prochains jours, d'actions de protestation à Bichkek, a fait savoir à RIA Novosti Japar Djekcheiev, un des leaders du Conseil de coordination de l'unité populaire.

Selon lui, les forces de l'opposition ont l'intention de commencer à agir dans la capitale mercredi prochain. L'opposition prévoit de tenir un meeting au centre de Bichkek, devant le monument à Maxime Gorki, et de défiler ensuite dans les rues centrales de la capitale.

Pour l'instant, la situation est absolument calme à Bichkek. La capitale célèbre le Nouvel An musulman: le Nowruz.

De nombreux observateurs constatent l'absence totale dans la république d'informations sur les événements dans les régions d'Och et de Djalal-Abad. En raison de la fête, les journaux de la république ne paraissent pas depuis vendredi, les radios et les chaînes de télévision ne commentent pas, en fait, les événements qui se produisent dans le Sud du pays.

Djalal-Abad et Och sont les centres de deux des sept régions de la Kirghizie situées au centre de la vallée fertile de Ferghana, à la frontière de l'Ouzbékistan.

Ce sont, pour l'essentiel, les régions agricoles du pays où les Ouzbeks constituent environ 50 % de la population, c'est pourquoi les hommes politiques craignent que les mouvements populaires ne dégénèrent en conflit interethnique.

Och et Djalal-Abad font l'objet de l'attention permanente des émissaires des courants islamiques extrémistes, y compris le parti religieux "Hizb-ut-Tahrir" interdit dans la république.

Hier matin, les membres de l'OMON (police anti-émeutes) républicain ont pris d'assaut les bâtiments administratifs des régions d'Och et de Djalal-Abad investis depuis quelques jours par les candidats qui avaient échoué aux élections législatives en Kirghizie. Les participants au meeting exigeaient l'annulation des résultats des élections et le changement de pouvoir dans la république.

Dans la journée, une foule d'environ 10 000 manifestants a attaqué le bâtiment du Commissariat de police de Djalal-Abad. Les attaquants ont jeté des bouteilles incendiaires, ce qui a provoqué un incendie dans le bâtiment. Les participants au meeting ont également envahi le bâtiment de l'administration régionale, la mairie et l'aéroport.

Lundi, à Och, la foule est entrée dans les bâtiments des organes du pouvoir d'Etat.

http://www.mosnews.com/news/2005/03/22/validelections.shtml

Kyrgyzstan

’s central electoral committee declared the disputed parliamentary elections valid on Tuesday, the Reuters news agency reports. The move came while violent protests were still raging in the south of the country and international monitors questioned the fairness and democracy of the poll.

Protesters kept up their pressure on President Askar Akayev, retaining control of two southern towns on Tuesday and asserting their authority by organizing joint patrols with police.

The protests against elections in the former Soviet Central Asian country, deemed flawed by international observers, have forced the veteran leader on the defensive. He sought to defuse the crisis on Monday by saying he was prepared to negotiate with the opposition.

But central election authorities, ignoring the criticism, said officially published results validated 69 out of the 75 seats elected to parliament in the February and March polls.

“Today a new parliament has been born,” Sulaiman Imanbayev, chairman of the central election commission, told reporters in the capital Bishkek.

The violent anti-Akayev protests followed peaceful revolutions in two other former Soviet republics —-

Ukraine

and

Georgia

—- that brought western-leaning leaders to power.

Mass protests against the polls that routed the opposition have been confined to the ethnically mixed south, which is poorer than northern regions around Bishkek. The capital itself has been quiet.

On Monday, tens of thousands of protesters armed with petrol bombs and sticks drove police out of Osh ,

Kyrgyzstan

’s second city, having earlier gained control of nearby Jalal Abad.

Osh is located in an area that brings together an ethnic cocktail of Uzbeks, Tajiks, Kyrgyz and Meskhetian Turks and was itself the scene of ethnic clashes in the early 1990s in which hundreds of people were killed.

Tension remained high there on Tuesday. When a crowd of about 50 men marched into an already ransacked police station to set up joint patrols, police fled in fear.

The group’s leader, market trader Bazambai Solpuyev, said they had come to set up joint public safety patrols with local police —- a fact confirmed by an interior ministry spokesman.

People, many of them men wearing traditional white Kyrgyz hats, went about their business along the dusty streets, but the normally omnipresent police were gone.

Akayev’s spokesman pledged on Monday to hold talks with the protesters in a bid to find common ground.

Akayev earlier said attempts to copy

Ukraine

’s “Orange Revolution” could lead to civil war in the mountainous state.

Unlike the upheavals in

Ukraine

and

Georgia

, the unrest in

Kyrgyzstan

appears to lack a central opposition rallying figure and demonstrators have resorted to violence.

It was not clear when talks between the government and opposition might take place. Akayev cancelled a planned speech on Monday but was shown on television later in the day meeting heads of the election commission and Supreme Court heads.

“I think people have to oppose this mob,” said Osmanakun Ibraimov, a state secretary, in an appeal for government supporters to take to the streets in Bishkek.

The opposition fears Akayev could use his majority in parliament to change the law and extend his 14-year hold on power beyond the legal maximum, although he says he intends to step down as the constitution demands in October.

In contrast to

Ukraine

and

Georgia

, where

Russia

backed the unpopular incumbents, former imperial power Moscow has stood back from the unrest in

Kyrgyzstan

Russia

and the

United States

have air bases near Bishkek.

The country, which borders

China

and three Central Asian states, is itself poor in natural resources. But it is situated in a energy-rich region of considerable interest to both the

United States

and

Russia

http://www.lemonde.fr/web/imprimer_element/0,40-0@2-3216,50-630240,0.html

Le mouvement d'opposition réclamant la démission du président du Kirghizstan, Askar Akaev, prend de l'ampleur. Les manifestants semblaient contrôler, mardi matin 22 mars 2005, la moitié sud du pays. A Och, deuxième ville kirghize (500 000 habitants), et à Djelalabad, les insurgés ont fermé les aéroports locaux. Des bâtiments administratifs ont été pris d'assaut par les manifestants dans plusieurs localités. Des militants d'opposition ont annoncé qu'un convoi d'autobus avait quitté, mardi, la ville de Och pour parcourir les 500 kilomètres de route montagneuse menant vers la capitale, Bichkek. A l'issue de cette "marche sur la capitale" les manifestants ont l'intention d'organiser un kouroultaï (assemblée) devant l'administration présidentielle.

Askar Akaev, un physicien âgé de 61 ans, arrivé au pouvoir dans cette République de 5 millions d'habitants à l'époque de la"perestroïka", et dont l'image d'unique dirigeant démocratique d'Asie centrale s'était émiettée, ces dernières années, au fur et à mesure que son clan familial s'emparait de tous les leviers de l'économie, tente de désamorcer la contestation en soufflant le chaud et le froid. Il a limogé, mercredi, son ministre de l'intérieur, ainsi que le procureur général. La veille, M. Akaev s'était dit prêt à un "règlement par la voie politique", excluant toute "solution de force" ainsi que l'introduction d'un "état d'urgence". Mais il a aussi décrit les événements comme"un coup d'Etat", dont les instigateurs seraient "dirigés et financés de l'étranger". Trois figures de l'opposition auraient été arrêtées mardi à Bichkek.

Lors d'un discours devant le nouveau Parlement, issu des élections des 27 février et 13 mars, le président Akaev a déclaré, mardi, qu'il était "exclu d'annuler les résultats des législatives". L'opposition, qui rassemble des chefs régionaux du sud du pays et d'anciens dignitaires du régime, conteste la légitimité de cette Assemblée, arguant des nombreuses falsifications relevées, lors du vote, par la mission de l'Organisation pour la sécurité et la coopération en Europe (OSCE). Les opposants accusent Askar Akaev de vouloir modifier la Constitution pour prolonger son mandat, qui expire en octobre.

Alors que l'OSCE et l'ambassade des Etats-Unis à Bichkek ont multiplié les appels au dialogue, la Russie a semblé adopter une position d'attente dans cette crise politique qui ébranle un nouveau pays de sa zone traditionnelle d'influence. Le Kremlin a évité de manifester un soutien prononcé pour le pouvoir en place, contrairement à ce qui s'était produit pendant la "révolution orange" en Ukraine.

Askar Akaev aurait tenté en vain de rencontrer le président Poutine, dimanche 20 mars, lors d'une visite éclair à Moscou, tenue secrète. Cette information a été publiée mercredi par le journal russe Vremia Novostiei, citant "des sources au Kremlin". M. Akaev aurait été reçu par d'autres officiels russes. C'est à l'issue de ces échanges, affirme le journal, que le président kirghiz a annoncé, de retour lundi dans son pays, qu'il était favorable à des négociations avec l'opposition. A la veille des législatives au Kirghizstan, l'ancien premier ministre Kourmanbek Bakiev, l'une des figures de proue de l'opposition, avait été reçu à Moscou par le secrétaire général du Conseil russe de sécurité, Igor Ivanov.

La Russie a inauguré en 2003 une base militaire au Kirghizstan, pays stratégique situé entre le Kazakhstan et la Chine, où des soldats américains ont été également déployés en 2001, dans le cadre des opérations militaires en Afghanistan. L'inquiétude de Moscou est de voir s'enflammer cette région d'Asie centrale, aux prises avec une pauvreté endémique, des régimes répressifs, et des mouvements islamistes clandestins. Les troubles politiques au Kirghizstan ont comme épicentre la région de Och, chef-lieu de la vallée de Ferghana, qui s'étire à l'intersection de trois Républiques (Kirghizstan, Ouzbékistan, Tadjikistan), et où des affrontements interethniques avaient fait des centaines de morts en 1990. Le Tadjikistan a renforcé, mardi, les mesures de sécurité à sa frontière.

http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-3216,36-630439@51-629301,0.html

Au Kirghizstan, manifestation de l'opposition dispersée et dignitaires limogés

La police antiémeute a dispersé, mercredi 23 mars, à Bichkek une manifestation qui réunissait, selon les sources, 200 à 300 opposants au président kirghize, Askar Akaev. Ils venaient soutenir Bolot Maripov, adversaire de la fille du président lors des élections législatives du 13 mars, dont les résultats douteux ont déclenché une vague de protestation. Une partie des manifestants, qui se dirigeaient dans le calme vers le siège du gouvernement, ont été arrêtés.
Un journaliste de l'agence Reuters présent, Dmitry Solovyov, évoque des accrochages entre la foule et des femmes soutenant M. Akaev. Selon lui, la police "a battu des gens, et les a jetés dans des bus. C'était bref, et violent". L'AFP indique, de son côté, que les manifestants ont été placés, sans violence, dans trois bus partis dans une direction inconnue. Les autres manifestants se sont dispersés dans la ville.

Plus tôt dans la matinée, le président Askar Akaev a fait tomber les premières têtes depuis le début des manifestations. Il a renvoyé le ministre de l'intérieur, Bakirdine Soubanbekov, et le procureur Makhtybek Abdyldaev. Ce dernier a été remplacé par Marat Soutalinov, ex-responsable de la défense et de la sécurité à la présidence. Quant au nouveau ministre de l'intérieur, Kenechbek Douchebaev, ancien chef de la police de Bichkek, il a d'emblée déclaré que les autorités kirghizes utiliseront tous les moyens légaux à leur disposition pour remettre de l'ordre dans le pays, y compris si nécessaire "les armes de service et des mesures de contrainte physique", selon l'agence Ria-Novosti.

Le président semble ainsi vouloir sanctionner les responsables de forces de l'ordre restées relativement passives face à la vague de contestation dans le Sud. S'il y a eu quelques heurts violents, des membres de l'opposition ont parlé de policiers rejoignant les rangs des manifestants. Selon une source gouvernementale, les deux limogeages n'ont pas été demandés par l'opposition, qui occupe depuis lundi plusieurs administrations à Och et Djelalabad, les principales villes du sud du pays.

Des rumeurs de pourparlers entre le pouvoir et l'opposition se répandent. Selon des agences russes, citant des sources à la présidence, le premier ministre kirghize, Nikolaï Tanaev, serait parti en hélicoptère pour Och, afin de discuter avec les opposants. Mais au ministère, son porte-parole a déclaré qu'il était "à Bichkek". Par ailleurs, une source gouvernementale a indiqué à l'AFP que des pourparlers entre le pouvoir et l'opposition devraient s'engager jeudi, en présence d'un émissaire de l'Organisation pour la sécurité et la coopération en Europe (OSCE), Aloïs Peterle, attendu dans la soirée au Kirghizstan. Le président de l'OSCE, le Slovène Dimitrij Rupel, a lancé un appel à la fin des violences et offert sa médiation dans la crise.

http://www.la-croix.com/afp.static/pages/050323140619.8kz20im1.htm

BICHKEK (AFP) - Manifestation dispersée au Kirghizstan, les autorités coupent la route du Sud

Les autorités kirghizes ont fait disperser sans ménagement une manifestation mercredi à Bichkek, et ont coupé l'unique route menant au Sud pour protéger la capitale face à la menace de l'opposition d'y amener ses partisans, alors que le doute planait sur d'éventuels pourparlers.

La présidence a annoncé le limogeage par le chef de l'Etat Askar Akaïev du ministre de l'Intérieur et du procureur général, et la nomination à ces postes respectifs de deux proches du président, Kenechbek Diouchebaïev, chef de la police de Bichkek, et Marat Soutalinov, responsable de la sécurité à la présidence kirghize.

Les autorités utiliseront tous les moyens légaux à leur disposition pour remettre de l'ordre dans le pays, y compris si nécessaire "les armes de service et des mesures de contrainte physique", a prévenu le nouveau ministre de l'Intérieur.

Le président Akaïev avait souligné mardi soir qu'il repousserait avec la plus grande fermeté le "coup d'Etat" fomenté par l'opposition dans le sud du pays depuis les législatives contestées de février-mars.

Pour la première fois mercredi, une manifestation de quelque 300 personnes qui s'étaient rassemblées dans le centre de Bichkek avec l'intention de marcher vers le siège de la présidence, a été dispersée sans ménagement -- mais sans effusion de sang -- par de nombreux policiers anti-émeutes casqués, a constaté l'AFP sur place.

Des manifestants ont été montés dans trois bus, qui sont partis dans une direction inconnue. Selon les témoins, une vingtaine de personnes auraient été interpellées.

Les autorités installaient par ailleurs des barrages sur l'unique route reliant le sud du pays au nord.

Le journaliste de l'AFP, qui a suivi la route entre la ville de Tokhtogoul (centre-sud) et celle de Karabalta au nord, a vu partout des terrassiers placer des barrages sur la chaussée.

Les partisans de l'opposition kirghize contrôlent plusieurs districts du sud et de l'ouest du pays. Ses leaders ont promis que la contestation allait monter vers le nord, et prévu des manifestations à Bichkek.

Jusqu'à présent, l'opposition, qui exige l'annulation des résultats des législatives et la démission du président Akaïev, n'est guère parvenue cependant à mobiliser massivement des partisans dans la capitale.

Akaïev, au pouvoir depuis 1990, a exclu en substance mardi des négociations avec des "révolutionnaires", "financés et dirigés de l'étranger".

Et les informations d'agences russes sur un départ du Premier ministre Nikolaï Tanaïev pour des négociations à Och, un des hauts lieux de la contestation, ont été démenties dans l'après-midi. "Pour l'instant on se sait pas avec qui mener des négociations", a expliqué le porte-parole de la présidence Abdyl Seguizbaïev.

Une source gouvernementale a cependant indiqué à l'AFP que des pourparlers devraient s'engager jeudi, en présence d'un émissaire de l'Organisation pour la sécurité et la coopération en Europe (OSCE), Aloïs Peterle.

Le président de l'OSCE, le Slovène Dimitrij Rupel, a d'ailleurs lancé un appel à la fin des violences et offert sa médiation dans la crise.

Le ministre des Affaires étrangères Sergueï Lavrov a dénoncé le "jugement incorrect" exprimé par le Haut représentant pour la politique étrangère de l'UE Javier Solana sur "les événements (au Kirghizstan) et sur leurs causes". M. Solana avait incriminé lundi la politique des autorités kirghizes en regrettant la "montée des tensions" après la tenue d'élections jugées non-démocratiques par l'OSCE, et le recours à la force contre les manifestants.

Des heurts parfois violents ont eu lieu dimanche et lundi dans les villes d'Och et de Jalal-Abad (sud), avant que la police ne laisse l'opposition occuper totalement le terrain.

Le ministre russe de la Défense, Sergueï Ivanov, a de son côté rappelé que le Kirghizstan était un "partenaire" de Moscou dans le cadre d'un Traité de sécurité collective signé en 1992 (avec le Bélarus, l'Arménie, le Tadjikistan et le Kazakhstan) et mis en garde la "prétendue opposition" kirghize.

La Russie dispose -- comme les Etats-Unis depuis 2001 -- d'une base militaire aérienne près de Bichkek, censée assurer la protection des républiques d'Asie centrale membres du traité de sécurité collective.

http://permanent.nouvelobs.com/etranger/20050324.FAP3186.html?1003

Kirghizstan: affrontements à Bichkek entre forces gouvernementales et partisans de l'opposition

BICHKEK, Kirghizstan (AP) -- Des forces pro-gouvernementales se sont heurtées jeudi aux manifestants à Bichkek, la capitale du Kirghizstan, à coups de pierre et bâtons près du siège de la présidence.

Les manifestants ripostaient en jetant également des pierres et en frappant à coups de bâton des centaines d'hommes en civil et portant un brassard bleu qui se tenaient près du cortège des manifestants avant de commencer à chasser ces manifestants.

Ces affrontements surviennent alors que des milliers de manifestants se dirigeaient jeudi vers le siège du gouvernement et appelaient au départ du président Askar Akaïev dans ce premier mouvement d'envergure dans la capitale kirghize depuis que les partisans de l'opposition ont pris le contrôle de plusieurs villes du sud du pays.

Des policiers anti-émeutes casqués et armés de matraques ont pris place autour du bâtiment blanc qui abrite les services présidentiels et gouvernementaux, et tout le secteur a été fermé à la circulation alors que quelque 5.000 manifestants progressaient vers l'édifice aux cris de «Akaïev, dehors!».

«Le pouvoir est aux mains du peuple? Aujourd'hui ou demain Bichkek sera aussi aux mains du peuple», a souligné depuis le toit d'un bâtiment Toptchoubek Tourgounaliev, un militant du parti de l'opposition du Mouvement populaire du Kirghizstan.

Peu avant cette manifestation, le Premier ministre Nikolaï Tanaïev avait annulé un voyage dans le sud du pays où il prévoyait de rencontrer des membres des forces de l'opposition pour désamorcer la crise politique, née après des élections législatives contestées et des appels à la démission du président Askar Akaïev.

Nikolaï Tanaïev ne se rendra pas comme prévu dans la ville d'Och, deuxième plus grande ville du pays, et bastion de l'opposition kirghize, avait déclaré une porte-parole du gouvernement, Roza Daudova.

«Il pourrait y avoir d'autres médiateurs» qui pourraient tenter de régler la crise, a-t-elle ajouté.

Apparemment déterminé à contenir les manifestations de l'opposition, le président kirghize Askar Akaïev a nommé mercredi un nouveau ministre de l'Intérieur, Kenechbek Douchebaïev, qui a prévenu qu'il pourrait utiliser la force pour rétablir l'ordre. Le même jour, la police dispersait un rassemblement à Bichkek, la capitale, signe de la volonté du pouvoir d'empêcher le mouvement de gagner le nord du pays.

Dans la matinée, Askar Akaïev avait limogé le ministre de l'Intérieur et le procureur général, sanctionnés après la montée du mouvement cette semaine dans le sud, où les manifestants qui réclament la démission du président se sont emparés de plusieurs bâtiments publics, plusieurs villes passant de fait sous contrôle de l'opposition. AP

http://permanent.nouvelobs.com/etranger/20050324.FAP3209.html?1103

Kirghizstan: des manifestants envahissent le siège de la présidence et du gouvernement à Bichkek

BICHKEK, Kirghizstan (AP) -- Des manifestants ont envahi jeudi le siège de la présidence et du gouvernement kirghizes à Bichkek, chassant les policiers anti-émeutes qui en gardaient les abords.

Un millier de manifestants ont réussi à déloger les policiers de leurs positions devant la clôture défendant le bâtiment mais ils ne sont pas entrés immédiatement dans les lieux. Des policiers à cheval avaient été envoyés pour tenter de disperser la foule. AP

http://www.rfi.fr/actufr/afp/une/050324103203.vw384o3p.asp

Charge des manifestants, jeudi 24 mars 2005 à Bichkek
(Photo: Alexander Nemenov / AFP)

BICHKEK (AFP) - L'opposition kirghize a pris le contrôle jeudi du siège du gouvernement, brandissant aux fenêtres le drapeau national du Kirghizstan et jetant dehors les portraits du président Askar Akaïev.

Les manifestants d'opposition avait pénétré peu auparavant dans le siège du gouvernement, assailli par la foule, alors que la police qui protégeait le bâtiment avait abandonné ses positions, restant stationnée non loin.

Peu avant, des dizaines de policiers à cheval avaient chargé la foule, pour disperser la manifestation de plusieurs milliers d'opposants devant le siège du gouvernement, selon un journaliste de l'AFP.

Cette charge intervenait alors que plusieurs dizaines de policiers anti-émeutes, chargés de protéger le palais, avaient commencé à quitter spontanément leurs positions, fraternisant avec les manifestants.

A la suite de leur départ, plusieurs entrées de la "Maison Blanche" (siège du gouvernement) n'étaient plus protégées.

Policiers et manifestants s'étaient également affronté, les opposants bombardant les forces de l'ordre de pierres, faisant au moins cinq blessés parmi les policiers.

Jusque là, la capitale avait été épargnée par la contestation, essentiellement concentrée dans le sud du pays.

http://www.lemonde.fr/web/imprimer_element/0,40-0@2-3216,50-630240,0.html

Des députés et sénateurs kirghizes, réunis jeudi 24 mars 2005 au soir en session extraordinaire à Bichkek, ont choisi le président du Parlement, Ichenbaï Kadyrbekov, comme président par intérim, ont rapporté les agences russes Ria Novosti et Itar-Tass. Et ils ont confié les fonctions du gouvernement au conseil de coordination d'unité nationale, créé par l'opposition et présidé par un de ses principaux leaders, Kourmanbek Bakiev.

Le président, Askar Akaev, contesté par l'opposition, n'est pas apparu en public jeudi, et selon des informations non confirmées, il aurait quitté le pays. Son premier ministre, Nicolaï Tanaev, aurait démissionné, d'après l'opposition.

Des centaines de manifestants d'opposition au président Askar Akaev avaient pénétré, jeudi 24 mars, dans le bâtiment qui abrite le siège de la présidence et du gouvernement kirghizes à Bichkek, la capitale du Kirghizstan. Ils en ont pris le contrôle, brandissant aux fenêtres le drapeau national du Kirghizstan et jetant dehors les portraits du président Akaev.

Kourmanbek Bakiev a fait une entrée solennelle dans le bâtiment, au milieu des vivats de la foule. Autre figure de proue de l'opposition, Roza Otounbaeva entrait peu après derrière lui. "Nous contrôlons la présidence", a déclaré M. Bakiev. Les ministres de la sécurité et de la défense seraient bloqués dans l'édifice, rapporte l'agence russe Interfax. La police, qui protégeait le bâtiment, a abandonné ses positions. Les manifestants ont également pénétré dans le siège de la télévision d'Etat.

Auparavant, des dizaines de policiers à cheval avaient chargé la foule, jeudi, pour disperser sans succès une manifestation de plusieurs milliers d'opposants devant le siège du gouvernement. Cette charge est intervenue alors que plusieurs dizaines de policiers antiémeute, qui étaient chargés de protéger le palais à pied, avaient commencé à quitter spontanément leurs positions, fraternisant avec les manifestants. A la suite de leur départ, plusieurs entrées de la "Maison Blanche" (siège du gouvernement) n'étaient plus protégées.

Les milliers d'opposants présents s'étaient massés pour réclamer la démission du chef de l'Etat. "Le président doit voir combien de gens demandent sa démission et partir de lui-même", a lancé du haut d'une tribune le principal leader de l'opposition, Kourmanbek Bakiev, s'adressant aux manifestants. Les protestataires, arborant des bandeaux roses ou jaunes, portaient des banderoles déclarant "Akaev démission" et scandaient "Akaev, va-t-en !" ou "Kel-kel", ce qui veut dire en kirghize "lève-toi et marche".

Il s'agit du plus grand rassemblement de l'opposition à Bichkek depuis le début du mouvement de contestation, né après l'annonce des résultats des législatives de février-mars, jugées frauduleuses par les adversaires du pouvoir. Jusque-là, la capitale avait été épargnée par la contestation, essentiellement concentrée dans le sud du pays.

Jeudi, du sud et de l'ouest du pays, des colonnes d'autobus étaient parties pour rejoindre Bichkek. "Akaev va devoir démissionner. Il n'y a plus rien à négocier", déclarait un responsable de l'opposition, Diouchen Choponov, depuis Och, une ville du Sud passée aux mains de l'opposition depuis le début de la semaine.

Le secrétaire d'Etat du Kirghizstan chargé de "l'idéologie" au sein du pouvoir, Osmonakoun Ibraïmov, a démissionné pour dénoncer la solution de force prônée par le pouvoir. S'exprimant sur les ondes de la radio russe Echo de Moscou, M. Ibraïmov a précisé avoir quitté son poste pour protester contre "la rigidité inutile du président" Akaev face à l'opposition. Il a souligné la nécessité de "s'asseoir à la table des négociations avec les leaders de l'opposition, de limoger le gouvernement dans son ensemble ainsi que les gouverneurs des régions du Sud, afin de donner une solution politique à la crise, et non celle de la force". Il a dit craindre une "guerre civile".

La veille, le chef de l'Etat avait limogé son ministre de l'intérieur et le procureur général, pour nommer de nouveaux responsables qui ont immédiatement prôné la plus extrême fermeté face au "coup d'Etat". Jeudi matin, devant les premiers rassemblements de l'opposition dans les faubourgs de Bichkek, à proximité du grand marché Ochskiï, le nouveau ministre de l'intérieur, Kenechbek Diouchebaev, s'était adressé aux manifestants pour les mettre en garde. La police "n'aura pas recours à la force", a-t-il dit, mais "si les vies des habitants de Bichkek et la sécurité des institutions d'Etat sont en danger", les autorités "appliqueront des mesures appropriées dans le cadre de la loi".

http://www.reuters.fr/locales/c_newsArticle.jsp?type=topNews&localeKey=fr_FR&storyID=7994452

BICHKEK (Reuters) - Profitant d'un retrait des forces de l'ordre entourant le bâtiment, des opposants réclamant la démission du président Askar Akaïev sont parvenus, dans la confusion la plus totale, à pénétrer à l'intérieur du siège du gouvernement kirghize à Bichkek.

D'après des spécialistes de ce petit pays stratégique de cinq millions d'habitants situé au coeur de l'Asie centrale, la fracture grandissante entre partisans et opposants du régime kirghize pourrait dégénérer en guerre civile.

Selon Dmitry Solovyov, journaliste de Reuters présent sur place, un manifestant arborant le drapeau national est apparu à une fenêtre du deuxième étage de la Maison blanche, l'imposant bâtiment du gouvernement situé au centre de la capitale kirghize. Un autre manifestant jetait des documents depuis le dernier étage.

Solovyov a précisé que les manifestants avaient pu pénétrer dans le QG du gouvernement, profitant du retrait de l'important cordon de sécurité qui l'entourait encore peu de temps auparavant.

Hurlant "Assez du clan Akaïev", quelque 10.000 manifestants ont défilé à Bichkek. Des coups de feu ont même été entendus peu avant dans la capitale, où des affrontements ont éclaté entre partisans et opposants d'Akaïev.

Selon des informations non confirmées, un homme a été tué dans ces affrontements que les deux camps se sont livrés munis de pierres et de bâtons, provoquant flux et reflux des deux groupes dans une configuration chaotique.

Le nouveau ministre de l'Intérieur kirghize, Kenechbek Douchebaïev, avait appelé les manifestants à bien se comporter, soulignant qu'il ne demanderait jamais à la police de tirer sur un rassemblement pacifique.

"Je dispose d'informations (...) selon lesquelles un nombre important de manifestants sont arrivés pour participer aux rassemblements à Bichkek. Nous (leur) avons demandé de ne pas se livrer au vandalisme, à des pillages, et à ne pas prendre d'assaut des bâtiments publics et magasins. Je ne donnerai jamais l'ordre d'utiliser des armes contre des gens pacifiques", a-t-il déclaré aux journalistes avant les heurts de Bichkek.

Les manifestants s'étaient réunis devant un hôpital d'où les organisateurs se sont adressés à eux, avant de prendre la direction de la Maison blanche, située deux kilomètres plus loin.

Ils ont été acclamés par les habitants des quartiers qu'ils ont traversés le long du boulevard Chui, la principale artère de cette ville de 800.000 habitants, où volètent des tracts anti-Akaïev.

Les manifestants, qui protestent contre les résultats des élections législatives de février et mars, grâce auxquelles Akaïev a décroché une majorité écrasante au parlement mais dont le déroulement a été critiqué par des observateurs internationaux, ont ensuite gagné le siège du gouvernement, placé sous bonne garde.

C'est sur une place voisine, celle d'Ala Too, que les affrontements ont éclaté sous le regard passif de la police.

La Maison blanche elle-même, où se trouvent les bureaux d'Akaïev, était alors entourée d'un double cordon de policiers et de troupes du ministère de l'Intérieur en tenue anti-émeutes, qui s'est retiré par la suite, permettant aux manifestants de pénétrer dans le bâtiment.

Le secrétaire d'Etat kirghize, Osmonakun Ibraimov, a proposé sa démission au vu des manifestations. Considéré comme le principal idéologue du régime, il est haï par l'opposition.

Les manifestants, qui exigent d'Akaïev l'annulation des élections législatives, lors desquelles l'opposition a subi une défaite cuisante, ont déjà pris le contrôle de deux villes du sud du pays, où des tensions ethniques sont apparues à la fin de l'ère soviétique.

Le président Akaïev avait qualifié mardi de légitime le parlement issu de ces élections.

Le gouvernement a annulé une visite prévue jeudi dans la deuxième ville du pays, Osh par le Premier ministre, Nikolaï Tanaïev, qui était censé rencontrer des responsables de l'opposition.

Bordée au nord par le Kazakhstan, à l'ouest par l'Ouzbékistan, au sud par le Tadjikistan et la Chine, la Kirghizie est, après l'Ukraine et la Géorgie, le dernier pays en date de l'ex-Union soviétique à être parcouru de soubresauts politiques, mais à l'inverse de ces deux pays elle n'a pas de leader incontesté dans les rangs de l'opposition.

http://www.rfi.fr/actufr/articles/063/article_35010.asp

Le président Askar Akaïev a choisi de fuir face au mouvement de protestation grandissant qui secouait son pays. Plusieurs milliers de manifestants s’étaient rassemblés jeudi dans la capitale kirghize pour réclamer sa démission. Ils ont réussi à prendre le contrôle du siège du gouvernement, puis de la télévision et enfin de la présidence. Seulement quelques heurts entre forces de l’ordre et manifestants ont été signalés au cours de cette journée qui a vu le renversement dans la douceur du président Akaïev, au pouvoir depuis quinze ans. La Cour suprême kirghize a annoncé que les résultats contestés des dernières élections législatives n’avaient pas été enregistrés et que le Parlement précédent retrouvait donc ses compétences.

Le scénario maintes fois vécu par différents pays de l’Est s’est répété jeudi en Asie Centrale. En l’espace de quelques heures, l’opposition kirghize descendue dans la rue a réussi à s’emparer du pouvoir en prenant successivement le contrôle des points névralgiques du pays. Les milliers de manifestants rassemblés dans le centre de Bichkek pour demander la démission du président Askar Akaïev ont tout d’abord réussi à pénétrer dans le siège du gouvernement. Des policiers équipés de boucliers anti-émeutes ont bien tenté de les repousser mais ils ont été rapidement débordés et ont choisi de battre en retraite. Quelques minutes après l’entrée des premiers manifestants dans le siège du gouvernement, des portraits du président Akaïev étaient jetés par les fenêtres, un geste salué par la foule réunie à l’extérieur du bâtiment, tout comme l’entrée solennelle de l'un des principaux leaders de l’opposition, Kourmanbek Bakiev.

Des manifestants se sont ensuite dirigés vers les locaux de la télévision d’Etat. Après en avoir pris le contrôle, ils ont commencé à diffuser leurs informations et à montrer des images des événements en cours. Devant les caméras, Kourmanbek Bakiev déclarait : «Le président doit voir combien de gens demandent sa démission et partir de lui-même». Après s’être rendu dans la matinée au siège de la présidence, baptisé la Maison Blanche, Askar Akaïev était à ce moment-là introuvable. Des responsables kirghizes ont ensuite expliqué qu’il avait rencontré dans sa résidence privée située hors de la capitale des représentants de l’Organisation pour la sécurité et la coopération en Europe (OSCE). Et alors que la Maison Blanche tombait à son tour entre les mains de l’opposition, l’agence russe Interfax annonçait que le président s’était envolé avec sa famille vers le Tadjikistan, une information confirmée par l’opposition.

Le départ à l’étranger d’Akaïev devrait permettre au Kirghizstan d’éviter toute explosion de violence. Selon un bilan encore provisoire, les heurts entre manifestants et forces de l’ordre n’auraient fait qu’une trentaine de blessés. Plusieurs témoins indiquent que les policiers ont refusé d’utiliser la force contre les manifestants, certains d’entre eux se joignant même à la foule pour demander le départ du pouvoir d’Akaïev. Un scénario pacifique encouragé par l’une des figures emblématiques de cette journée, Felix Koulov. Cet ancien vice-président avait été emprisonné en 2000 après être passé dans le camp de l’opposition. Il a retrouvé jeudi sa liberté et a invité, devant les caméras de télévision, le président Akaïev à accepter une transition pacifique et constitutionnelle. «J’appelle à ne pas se venger et à ne recourir en aucune manière à la force», a ajouté M. Koulov.

Après la révolution des Roses en Géorgie et la révolution orange en Ukraine, Moscou redoute qu’un troisième pays de la Communauté des Etats indépendants (CEI) ne vive un renversement politique. Le ministère russe des Affaires étrangères a d’ailleurs demandé dans une déclaration que le Kirghizstan retrouve «le terrain de la légalité». «Il est indispensable s’assurer le plus rapidement possible l’application de la Constitution du Kirghizstan, de se garder de toute action faisant peser un risque sur la paix et de restaurer l’ordre», indique le communiqué du Kremlin.

Un retour en arrière semble cependant difficile et l’opposition, après plusieurs semaines de lutte, devrait bientôt pouvoir savourer sa victoire. Sa colère a été déclenchée par les résultats des récentes élections législatives. L’opposition n’avait obtenu que six des 75 sièges que compte le Parlement monocaméral, soit quatorze de moins que dans la chambre précédente. Des résultats immédiatement dénoncés par ses principaux dirigeants qui ont dénoncé des fraudes électorales, leurs accusations se fondant notamment sur les premières conclusions de l’OSCE. Ses observateurs ont fortement critiqué le déroulement de ce scrutin, en estimant notamment que le premier tour n’avait pas été conforme aux normes démocratiques. Après les événements qui ont secoué jeudi le pays, le président de la Cour suprême kirghize, Kourmanbek Osmonov, a annoncé que les résultats de ce scrutin contesté ne seraient pas enregistrés, l’ancien Parlement retrouvant ainsi ses compétences.

C’est dans le sud du pays, une région qui avait déjà connu des affrontements communautaires violents dans les années 90, que la colère et le mécontentement se sont tout d’abord fait entendre. La semaine dernière, des manifestants avaient notamment pris le contrôle du siège du gouverneur de la région d’Och. Refusant de remettre en cause les résultats électoraux, Askar Akaïev s’était contenté de dénoncer un complot ourdi de l’étranger. Et cet homme arrivé au pouvoir en 1990 nourrissait l’espoir de pouvoir raisonner l’opposition, son Premier ministre anticipant une série de pourparlers. Sa stratégie a échoué, le mouvement de protestation mettant fin au pouvoir de cet homme qui pensait conserver le fauteuil présidentiel jusqu’aux élections prévues à l’automne.

http://radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/International/nouvelles/200503/24/002-Kirghizstan-opposants.shtml

Coup de force au Kirghizstan

Plusieurs milliers d'opposants au président du Kirghizstan, Askar Akaïev, continuent à contester les résultats des dernières élections législatives, et font entendre leur colère dans la capitale, Bichkek, depuis jeudi matin.

Ce mouvement d'opposition, d'abord limité aux villes du sud du pays, dont plusieurs sont sous le contrôle des manifestants, se propage donc dans la principale ville.

De violents affrontements entre les manifestants et les policiers anti-émeutes ont fait une trentaine de blessés. Des policiers à cheval ont aussi chargé les opposants pour les éloigner du siège du gouvernement, devant lequel ils sont massés.

Le face-à-face a pris fin abruptement, lorsque les policiers ont quitté leurs positions. Certains se sont toutefois attardés et ont même fraternisé avec les manifestants.

Plusieurs opposants ont tout de même réussi à entrer dans le quartier général du gouvernement, où se trouvent les ministres kirghiz de la Défense et de la Sécurité. Parmi eux, les deux principaux leaders de l'opposition ont fait une entrée triomphale dans l'édifice, acclamés par la foule.

Les manifestants ont brandi le drapeau kirghiz et jeté des portraits du président Akaïev par les fenêtres. Par ailleurs, d'autres opposants occupent le siège de la télévision d'État.

Les manifestants s'insurgent contre les résultats des dernières élections législatives, où le parti présidentiel a obtenu la presque totalité des sièges. Les observateurs de l'Organisation pour la sécurité et la coopération en Europe ont d'ailleurs contesté ces résultats.

Mercredi, le président a congédié le ministre de l'Intérieur et le procureur général, pour les remplacer par des responsables favorisant une approche plus dure face à l'opposition. En réaction à ces nominations, le secrétaire d'État du Kirghizstan a démissionné jeudi et dénoncé l'attitude fermée du président Akaïev.

Les opposants réclament la démission du président Akaïev, au pouvoir depuis 1990, mais celui-ci refuse de quitter avant la fin de son mandat, en octobre prochain. Askar Akaïev a d'abord été placé au pouvoir en 1990, puis élu au suffrage universel en 1991 et en 1995. Ses réélections subséquentes ont été entachées de fraudes et contestées.

Le Kirghizstan est une république d'Asie centrale entourée du Kazakhstan au nord, du Tadjikistan au sud, de l'Ouzbékistan à l'ouest et de la Chine à l'est. Ancienne république socialiste soviétique, elle est devenue un pays indépendant en 1991, avant les républiques voisines.

La population de ce pays de 5 millions d'habitants, montagneux et sans accès à la mer, est formée à 66 % de Kirghiz, à 14 % d'Ouzbeks et à 12 % de Russes. La pauvreté touche plus de 60 % de la population, surtout dans le sud du pays

http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/local/states/georgia/counties/houston_peach/11214494.htm

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan - President Askar Akayev reportedly fled on Thursday after protesters stormed his headquarters, seized control of state television and rampaged through government offices, throwing computers and air conditioners out of windows.

A leading opponent of the Akayev regime, Felix Kulov, was freed from prison and praised the "revolution made by the people." Kulov said Akayev had signed a letter of resignation, the ITAR-Tass news agency reported.

Members of the reinstated parliament that was in power before February's disputed election met Thursday night to discuss keeping order in the nation and conducting a new presidential vote, perhaps as early as May or June.

Legislators in the upper house elected a former opposition lawmaker, Ishenbai Kadyrbekov, as interim president, but the lower chamber did not immediately approve the choice.

Kadyrbekov, a Communist lawmaker in the previous bicameral parliament, had been disqualified by authorities from running in the disputed elections in February and early March, which fueled the protests.

Opposition activist Ulan Shambetov, who briefly sat in Akayev's office chair to celebrate, praised the latest uprising to sweep a former Soviet republic.

"It's not the opposition that has seized power, it's the people who have taken power. The people. They have been fighting for so long against corruption, against that (Akayev) family," he said.

The takeover of government buildings in Bishkek followed similar seizures by opposition activists in southern

Kyrgyzstan

, including the second-largest city, Osh . Those protests began even before the first round of parliamentary elections on Feb. 27 and swelled after March 13 run-offs that the opposition said were seriously flawed.

U.S.

and European officials concurred.

Later Thursday,

Kyrgyzstan

's Supreme Court declared the election invalid and recognized the former parliament as the legitimate legislature, said former parliamentary speaker Abdygany Erkebayev.

Akayev's whereabouts were not known. Both the opposition and Russian news agencies said he had left the country but U.S. officials raised doubts about whether he was no longer in Kyrgyzstan.

Opposition leader Kurmanbek Bakiyev appeared on state TV and declared: "Akayev is no longer on the territory of Kyrgyzstan ."

The Interfax news agency, without citing sources, said Akayev had flown to

Russia

but later said he had landed in

Kazakhstan

However, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld was asked about the reports during a stop in

Guatemala

"The intelligence reports do not verify what you cited from press reports. I'm confident there will be no issue with respect to

U.S.

forces," Rumsfeld said.

Bakiyev also said the prime minister had resigned but that those in charge of the Security, Interior and Defense ministries were working with the opposition.

Politics in

Kyrgyzstan

depends as much on clan ties as on ideology, and the fractious opposition has no unified program beyond calls for more democracy, an end to poverty and corruption, and a desire to oust Akayev, who held power in the former Soviet republic for 15 years.

The fragmented opposition has shown no signs it would change policy toward

Russia

or the West - and unlike in recent anti-government protests in

Georgia

and

Ukraine

, foreign policy has not been an issue.

But any change would have impact, since both the

United States

and

Russia

have cooperated with Akayev and have military bases near Bishkek. There are about 1,000

U.S.

troops at Manas air base outside Bishkek. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said he didn't believe they would be adversely affected by the turmoil.

Kyrgyzstan

's role as a conduit for drugs and a potential hotbed of Islamic extremism, particularly in the impoverished south, makes it volatile. There is no indication, however, that the opposition would be more amenable to Islamic fundamentalist influence than Akayev's government has been.

"The future of

Kyrgyzstan

should be decided by the people of

Kyrgyzstan

, consistent with the principles of peaceful change, of dialogue and respect for the rule of law," State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said.

The takeover began with a rally Thursday morning on the outskirts of Bishkek, where about 5,000 protesters roared and clapped when an opposition speaker said they soon would control the entire country.

"The people of

Kyrgyzstan

will not let anybody torment them," Bakiyev told the crowd. "We must show persistence and strength, and we will win."

Interior Minister Keneshbek Dushebayev addressed demonstrators and urged them to obey the law, but he also departed from his warnings a day earlier of a violent crackdown, saying no force would be used against peaceful protesters.

About 1,000 people surged toward the hulking, Soviet-era building that contained Akayev's offices and met little resistance from the helmeted riot police who held truncheons and shields next to a protective fence. About half of the crowd entered through the front. Others smashed windows with stones, tossed papers and tore portraits of Akayev in half and stomped on them.

Some demonstrators were injured during a clash with a group of truncheon-wielding men in civilian clothes and blue armbands - the color of Akayev's party. One demonstrator had a serious head injury and a broken leg, and another had broken ribs, said Iskander Shamshiyev, leader of the opposition Youth Movement of Kyrgyzstan.

Vincent Lusser, a spokesman for the International Red Cross in Geneva , said its staff had seen "a few dozen wounded" in Bishkek hospitals - most with injuries sustained in falls or fistfights.

Hundreds of police watched from outside the fence, where thousands more protesters remained, appearing disorganized and unwilling to act against the demonstrators. Neither side visibly carried any firearms.

Officials left through a side door, protected by Interior Ministry troops. Some camouflage-clad troops also left peacefully.

Many of the demonstrators wore pink or yellow headbands signifying their loyalty to the opposition - reminiscent of the orange worn by protesters who helped bring in a pro-Western president in

Ukraine

last year and the rose hues worn in

Georgia

in 2003.

At one point, a protester charged through the square on horseback, a yellow opposition flag waving, and protesters chanted, "Akayev, go!"

Dozens of youths rampaged inside the building, some smashing furniture and looting supplies, ignoring protest organizers urging them to stop. Broken glass littered the floors and a drugstore in the building was ransacked.

"It's the victory of the people. But now we don't know how to stop these young guys," said Noman Akabayev, who ran unsuccessfully in the elections.

Several hours after the takeover, thick plumes of black smoke rose from two burning cars nearby, apparently belonging to government officials. A fire truck responded.

After nightfall, thousands milled peacefully in Ala-Too Square outside the presidential headquarters, occasionally breaking into cheers. But a large store on a main street was looted, with mostly young men carting out crates of food, juice and cookies, as well as mattresses, mirrors and coat hangers.

Kulov's release could be a key element in unifying the Kyrgyz opposition, which until now has lacked a single clear leader.

He had been serving 10 years in prison for embezzlement and abuse of power - charges he says were fabricated by the Akayev regime. A former vice president, interior minister and mayor of Bishkek, Kulov was arrested after announcing his candidacy to oppose Akayev in the 2000 presidential election.

"It is a revolution made by the people," Kulov said on state television, adding, "Tomorrow will come, and we must decide how to live tomorrow."

Topchubek Turgunaliyev of the opposition People's Movement of Kyrgyzstan, said new parliamentary elections would be held in the fall.

Edil Baisalov, head of a prominent non-governmental organization that monitored the disputed elections, told The Associated Press that a new presidential vote might occur in May or June, to be followed later by parliamentary elections.

The opposition accused the 60-year-old Akayev, who was prohibited from seeking another term, of manipulating the parliamentary vote to gain a compliant legislature that would amend the constitution so he could stay in office beyond an October presidential election. Akayev has denied that.

Akayev was long regarded as a reform-minded leader, but in recent years he turned more authoritarian. In 2002, his reputation was tarnished after police killed six demonstrators protesting the arrest of an opposition lawmaker.

"I am very happy because for 15 years we've been seeing the same ugly face that has been shamelessly smiling at us," said Abdikasim Kamalov, holding a red Kyrgyz flag outside the presidential building. "We could no longer tolerate this. We want changes."

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/world/11222451.htm

BISHKEK,

Kyrgyzstan

- (KRT) - Racing past cordons of police and soldiers who offered little resistance, thousands of demonstrators stormed the governmental palace in this impoverished, mountainous Central Asian nation Thursday, forcing the president to flee out a side door as ecstatic protesters looted his offices and clamored for a new government.

Within three hours, an orderly rally by Kyrgyz citizens opposed to President Askar Akayev blossomed into a jubilant revolution with Akayev's headquarters as its epicenter. Demonstrators streamed up seven flights of stairs to the president's wood-paneled office, where they took turns sitting in his chair and rifled his desk drawers. In an anteroom, torn photos of Akayev posing with foreign dignitaries littered the carpet.

By late afternoon, it had become clear that the president had fled the country. The upper house of parliament met Thursday night and chose former opposition lawmaker Ishenbai Kadyrbekov as interim president until a new election could be held.

Speaking inside a presidential conference room where protesters had already shattered windows and demolished furniture, opposition leader Topchubek Turgunaliyev declared: "The power of Akayev is over! You are the first heroes to come into the president's hall!"

"Tomorrow," Turgunaliyev shouted, "your elected leaders will be running the country!"

The uprising set the stage for

Kyrgyzstan

to become the third former Soviet republic in 16 months to undergo regime change as a result of popular uprisings against rigged or flawed elections. It also occurred in a region most observers thought was impervious to change: Central Asia , where holdover leaders from the Soviet era have secured power through brutal, authoritarian means.

While the sudden revolt did not follow the script of

Georgia

's ouster of Eduard Shevardnadze in 2003 or the Orange Revolution that lifted Viktor Yushchenko into

Ukraine

's presidency last year, it shared a common element: a military and government that recoiled from the prospect of moving against its own people.

Soldiers in the building's lobby were armed but had been ordered by Akayev to not shoot protesters, a presidential aide told the protesters. With demonstrators filling the halls and ransacking virtually every office they came upon,

Kyrgyzstan

's military leadership saw no other choice but to leave.

"For the sake of security for both sides, I decided to take the soldiers out of the building," said Gen. Abdulgami Tokchayev as he led a group of battered, bandaged soldiers down one of the building's stairwells. "I made the decision."

Demonstrators racing to Akayev's offices found the 60-year-old leader gone. In an interview given inside Akayev's office, the presidential aide said Akayev fled after realizing demonstrators had broken through the building's front door.

Outside the massive, Soviet-era building known to Kyrgyz people as "the White House," a sea of demonstrators lingered for hours to savor the moment. Some leapt onto the military's abandoned armored personnel carriers to hug fellow protesters; others gleefully yelped as they wandered about the plaza, carrying looted computers, telephones, vases and books in their arms.

"This is the moment we have waited for for so long," said Abdul-Latif Tagubayev, a member of

Kyrgyzstan

's youth movement, Kel-Kel. "The people of

Kyrgyzstan

are the ones to thank - they are the ones who achieved this. Power is now in our hands."

Akayev's whereabouts were uncertain early Friday. The Russian news agency Interfax, quoting unnamed sources, reported that Akayev and his family had flown to neighboring

Kazakhstan

. But a Kazakh Foreign Ministry spokesman told Interfax that the ministry could not confirm that Akayev and his family had sought refuge in

Kazakhstan

Another Russian news agency, Itar-Tass, reported that Akayev had formally resigned, but that could not be confirmed.

Kyrgyzstan

's opposition began calling for Akayev's resignation after the country's Feb. 27 and March 13 parliament elections, won overwhelmingly by Akayev's allies. International observers said both elections were tainted by vote-buying, media bias for pro-Akayev candidates and the improper removal of opposition candidates from ballots.

Demonstrations gathered steam in the poverty-stricken southern cities of Jalal-Abad and Osh , where protesters seized police headquarters and other government buildings, and had claimed control over those regions. Early this week, busloads of demonstrators from the south arrived in Bishkek, the capital.

By Thursday, thousands of protesters carrying daffodils and wearing pink and yellow armbands and headbands - the colors of two major opposition parties - had begun a 10-block march from the outskirts of Bishkek to Ala-Too Plaza and Akayev's headquarters.

Once at the plaza, thousands of protesters amassed around a red granite platform, where opposition leaders queued up to give speeches urging protesters to demonstrate with discipline but maintain their resolve to rally until Akayev resigned.

About 1:20 p.m. local time, a scuffle broke out among demonstrators and activists affiliated with Akayev's Alga Kyrgyzstan Party. Within minutes, the scuffle behind the platform had escalated into an all-out brawl, as dozens of Alga activists wearing blue ribbons raced into the crowd, bludgeoning demonstrators with long sticks.

"After someone struck me on the head twice, I fell down and they piled onto me and beat me," said Elzat Gapirtayev, 19, his head bandaged. In his right hand, he clutched a pipe that he had wrested from one of the pro-Akayev activists. "This is despicable, what Akayev is doing. We wanted to do this peacefully, and they beat us."

Opposition demonstrators were able to surround the pro-Akayev activists, pinning down several of them and pummeling them with sticks and rocks. Pools of blood dotted the plaza's red granite tiles. The pro-Akayev activists retreated to a street next to the White House, where hundreds of Kyrgyz soldiers in riot gear stood guard, armed only with truncheons and riot shields.

By 2:15 p.m. local time, demonstrators began moving on the cordon of soldiers. They picked up granite tiles and pieces of curb, broke them into pieces, and hurled them at soldiers, who cocooned themselves in their riot shields in defense. At one point a line of soldiers moved into the crowd in an attempt to break it up, but demonstrators unleashed a hail of rocks and sticks that forced the soldiers to retreat.

Moments later, a throng of protesters rushed toward dozens of soldiers ringing the presidential compound's wrought-iron fence. The demonstrators quickly overtook the troops, wresting away their shields and helmets and beating several soldiers. That left the building defended only by a single line of soldiers without firearms, standing guard just outside the building.

At 2:31 p.m. local time, demonstrators had succeeded in taking down a main gate along the fence. Several protesters walked through the opening and up to the line of soldiers to begin impromptu negotiations. One protester urged Gen. Tokchayev to join their side, telling him, "You could be a minister of defense if you join us! You'd be a national hero!"

"There's no discussion on whether soldiers stay or go," Tokchayev answered. "This is their job. They are soldiers."

Akayev's troops tried one last move to disperse the crowd. Several soldiers on horseback and armed with clubs raced toward the demonstrators. Many protesters fled for safety, but hundreds stood their ground and attacked the soldiers on horseback. Several soldiers were pulled down from their horses and beaten.

In what may become a lasting symbol of the uprising, one young demonstrator, dressed in black and a yellow headband, jumped into the saddle of one of the horses. He reared the horse up, then sent the animal into a charging gallop through the crowd, triggering a roar of cheers from demonstrators as he raced by.

By 2:50 p.m. local time, demonstrators began raining the White House with stones, forcing the last of the soldiers inside. Marching up the steps of the building, demonstrators screamed "Akayev, go!" and within minutes, had broken through the building's large wooden doors.

Throngs of demonstrators streamed into the building. The lobby was flooded with water and a fire hose lay amid the debris - perhaps the result of a last-ditch attempt by soldiers to hold off the crowd. On the landing of the building's lobby staircase, yelping demonstrators hurled chairs through the building's large, plate-glass windows.

In one of the more bizarre images inside the building, demonstrators raced up the stairs to begin ransacking offices, as a line of dejected soldiers walked slowly down the stairs, some of them heavily bandaged.

"I'm not on anybody's side - I'm leaving," said one young soldier, refusing to give his name. Another commander who only gave his first name, Valery, said simply, "We were never here," and continued walking.

A looting frenzy ensued. Inside Prime Minister Nikolai Tanayev's spacious office, demonstrators destroyed most of the furniture. Many walked away with whatever they could carry: computer terminals, telephones, paintings, even stacks of Russian-language encyclopedias. One man, visibly drunk, stumbled through the prime minister's office holding a snifter of the prime minister's cognac. Another demonstrator briskly walked down the hallway with a large, ornate vase hoisted over his shoulder.

Inside a closet containing gifts presented to Akayev, several demonstrators sized up what was worth taking. One man looked at a large sculpture of two bronze hands holding up the globe, and mumbled dismissively, "Too heavy to carry." Another man touched the golden head of an Egyptian statue and said to his friend, "Do you think this is real gold?"

In Akayev's office, demonstrators rifled through his desk, pulling out newspaper clippings in which someone had used a highlighter to single out quotes given by the president's political enemies. They also pored over a blue notebook in which Akayev had written down sayings of famous people that he had come across and wanted to use in his own speeches.

The chaos that took place inside the presidential building was clearly on the minds of opposition leaders as they struggled to decide how to restore order and establish a new government. Kurmanbek Bakiyev, one of the leading opposition figures and a former prime minister under Akayev, walked into Akayev's ransacked office and urged discipline.

"We should not have chaos," Bakiyev told a small group of demonstrators huddled around him inside Akayev's office. "This is people's property and people's money. Please don't destroy it."

Bakiyev also appeared to be stunned by how fast the day's events had unfolded. "I didn't expect this. I thought we'd have a rally and appeal to the president. That was the goal. But I never expected this to happen."

Bakiyev said Akayev made the mistake of refusing to hold talks with opposition leaders. "For 20 days we tried to negotiate. The government didn't do anything. Because they did not come to the negotiations, this is the result."

By early evening, Bakiyev and other opposition leaders began cobbling a plan to re-establish order. They met with Interior Ministry officials, urging them to safeguard the city from looters and promising them they would not be fired. Members of parliament in office before the recent elections met in a special session Thursday night, and were expected to reconvene Friday to discuss the country's near-term leadership, as well as the prospect of new presidential and parliamentary elections. Late Thursday,

Kyrgyzstan

's Supreme Court nullified the Feb. 27 and March 13 parliament elections.

Selection of a new leader will not be an easy task since the opposition lacked a single person it could rally around. Along with Bakiyev, Akayev's former foreign minister, Roza Otunbayeva, had been trying to position herself as a major force within the opposition.

Another leading candidate is Felix Kulov, a popular Kyrgyz politician jailed by Akayev's government in 2000 on embezzlement charges that his allies said were politically motivated. Kulov once served as Akayev's vice president. He was jailed shortly after announcing he would run against Akayev.

Kulov was freed from prison after demonstrators had stormed Akayev's headquarters, but it was unclear who initiated his release. Speaking later on Kyrgyz state television, Kulov praised the actions of the demonstrators, saying, "It is a revolution made by the people."

Addressing demonstrators inside Akayev's conference room, Turgunaliyev echoed the praise. "I'd like to congratulate you - you are the national heroes. This is what we've strived for for years."

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/world/11220580.htm

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan - Shattered glass littered the floors, furniture and portraits of the president tumbled out the windows, and the young men who seized Kyrgyzstan's government headquarters Thursday took a break to divvy up packages of crackers they'd ripped out of a carton.

"It's the people who have taken power," said Ulan Shambetov, an opposition activist who briefly sat in longtime President Askar Akayev's office chair to celebrate. "They have been fighting for so long against corruption, against that (Akayev) family," Shambetov said.

Opposition politicians pleaded in vain with the youths to stop smashing furniture and looting supplies they found in government offices and in a small pharmacy inside the building.

"It's the victory of the people. But now we don't know how to stop these young guys," said Noman Akabayev, who ran unsuccessfully in this year's disputed parliamentary elections, which sparked the unrest that has shaken this Central Asian nation of 5 million people to its roots.

The government's authority crumbled in the south over the past week, and on Thursday the opposition concentrated its forces on the capital. A rally that began with some 1,000 people picked up strength as demonstrators marched to the government compound.

Some carried yellow narcissus or stuck the flowers in breast pockets as a symbol of their peaceful ambitions - a message reinforced earlier in the day by a procession of children wearing pink and yellow ribbons around their heads, signifying two strands of the opposition.

After the presidential headquarters was seized, a few young men raced up and down the square outside the compound on horseback, bright flags flapping behind them.

The demonstrators were unarmed, and riot police appeared to be equipped only with truncheons and shields - not firearms.

Men in plainclothes, wearing armbands in the blue color of Akayev's supporters and beating truncheons against wooden shields, suddenly charged the crowd and pushed it back after a melee in which they threw stones at protesters who retaliated in kind. The crowd surged back, regaining control of a square next to the government building.

Some protesters broke off stone slabs from the square that were later used to smash windows in the government building.

After the confrontation on the square, about 1,000 protesters pushed their way through the rings of riot police guarding the seat of government power, surging in several waves. Within minutes, hundreds were inside - exulting and rampaging.

After the rampage, fire hoses lay strewn across the floors, torn from their cases. Office furniture was broken, and telephones were smashed and ripped out of walls. A small room with archives was ransacked, with files and piles of paper across the floor.

There were telltale signs that officials had left in a hurry: teacups with tea bags inside them sat on desks.

Opposition activists eventually forced the marauders out, appointing patrols and stationing guards at the doors to check people for booty. One protester-turned-guard scanned people with a handheld metal detector, such as those used at airport security checks.

http://www.canada.com/news/monde/story.html?id=fa6c2b96-3656-4747-ade0-65d1134c450b

BICHKEK, Kirghizistan (AP) - Les événements s'accélèrent au Kirghizistan. Des protestataires ont envahi jeudi le siège de la présidence et du gouvernement à Bichkek, prenant le contrôle de ce symbole du pouvoir dans la capitale, après avoir chassé les policiers anti-émeutes qui en gardaient les abords au cours d'une grande manifestation de l'opposition.

On ignore où se trouve actuellement Askar Akaïev, au pouvoir depuis 1991, qui devait normalement rencontrer jeudi un représentant de l'Organisation pour la sécurité et la coopération en Europe (OSCE), venu proposer une médiation.

Mais d'après l'agence de presse russe Interfax, qui cite des sources kirghizes, le président et sa famille ont quitté la capitale jeudi soir par hélicoptère pour se diriger vers le Kazakhstan.

Quelques heures après l'entrée des manifestants, d'épaisses colonnes de fumée noire s'échappaient de deux voitures en flammes appartenant à des fonctionnaires près du siège du gouvernement.

L'une des figures clé de l'opposition, Kourmanbek Bakiev, se trouvait avec les manifestants au siège du gouvernement et se préparait à faire un discours devant les milliers de personnes massées devant le bâtiment. La télévision d'Etat semblait être tombée aux mains de l'opposition, renforçant l'impression que l'opposition jusqu'ici désunie consolidait son emprise. Un autre responsable important de l'opposition, Felix Koulov, incarcéré en 2000, a été libéré jeudi, selon l'agence de presse russe Interfax.

L'opposition s'était déjà emparée de plusieurs villes du sud, bastion des principaux chefs de l'opposition, réclamant la démission du président Akaïev et faisant état de fraudes lors des élections législatives de cette année.

A l'occasion de la première grande manifestation de l'opposition à Bichkek, un millier de personnes ont réussi jeudi à déloger les policiers de leurs positions devant la clôture protégeant le bâtiment, environ la moitié d'entre eux sont entrés dans les lieux. Certains ont brisé des vitres à l'aide de pierres, sous l'oeil de centaines d'agents des forces de l'ordre.

Des protestataires ont fait sortir le ministre de la Défense du bâtiment, le tenant pas les épaules et tentant de le protéger, mais d'autres lui ont jeté des pierres. Un manifestant lui a donné un coup de pied. Des hommes du ministère de l'Intérieur ont conduit d'autres responsables vers la sortie, et trois personnes blessées, portant des bandages, ont quitté les lieux, accompagnées d'un médecin.

Au moment où des manifestants entraient dans le bâtiment, d'autres responsables ont pu être vus quittant l'édifice par une porte annexe sous la protection des troupes du ministère de l'Intérieur. Certains agents portant des tenues de camouflage quittaient le bâtiment et aucun d'entre eux ne semblait vouloir affronter les manifestants, parmi lesquels se trouvait Kourmankek Bakïev, l'un des deux principaux dirigeants de l'opposition.

Deux manifestants ont agité un drapeau depuis une fenêtre élevée du bâtiment tandis que d'autres se montraient aux fenêtres, acclamés par la foule. Les protestataires ont jeté des papiers et des portraits d'Akaïev ainsi que des meubles.

Auparavant, une colonne de quelque 5.000 personnes a défilé sur la principale avenue de Bichkek, s'arrêtant sur la principale place proche du siège de la présidence et du gouvernment. Le bâtiment de couleur blanche était entouré de policiers anti-émeutes armés de boucliers et de matraques. "Akaïev, va-t-en!", scandaient les manifestants.

"Les jours d'Akaïev sont comptés", a lancé Toptchoubek Tourgounalïev, militant du Mouvement du peuple du Kirghizistan (opposition), à la foule. "Le peuple du Kirghizistan ne se laissera pas tourmenter par personne", avait un peu plus tôt déclaré Kourmanbek Bakiev, l'un des deux principaux chefs d'une opposition fragmentée. "Nous devons faire preuve d'obstination et de force, et nous l'emporterons".

Nombre des manifestants arboraient des bandeaux de couleur jaune et rose, exprimant ainsi leur fidélité à l'opposition, comme un rappel de la "Révolution orange" en Ukraine l'an dernier.

De son côté, l'Organisation pour la sécurité et la coopération en Europe (OSCE) a entamé une médiation: le représentant personnel du secrétaire général pour l'Asie centrale, Alojz Peterle, est arrivé à Bichkek jeudi pour tenter de faire baisser la tension.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1445394,00.html

In the presidential office, a looting child rummaged through a safe. A hefty man in a vest threatened another with a vase held above his head. Three surly protesters with clubs demanded everybody left the room while they argued about what to do next. The room's usual occupant, Askar Akayev, the president of

Kyrgyzstan

, was missing. The man who dominated one of the former Soviet Union 's most impoverished states for 15 years had vanished in a flurry of nationwide violence.

In his palatial office, as on the street, various factions struggled to fill the power vacuum left after opposition anger overflowed and protesters stormed and looted the presidential administration.

The day of street fighting in Bishkek, the central Asian state's capital, ended with the apparent resignation of President Akayev following fierce protests sparked by a flawed parliamentary election that gave his allies, son and daughter all but six of the 75 MP seats.

It appeared yesterday that initially peaceful protests had been undermined by a cocktail of widespread fury among the population and government brutality. About 5,000 opposition protesters marched on and seized Bishkek's central square in the morning. There, the opposition leader, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, told the Guardian before he addressed a crowd growing in size and anger that they would "wait for negotiations".

But groups of Akayev sympathisers, wearing blue armbands to distinguish them from the opposition's pink and yellow ribbons, had massed around the presidential administration next to the square. One, Sasha, a state factory worker from the regions, said he had been brought to Bishkek to "start fights".

With riot police bearing shields and batons behind them, it did not take long. Two presidential loyalists began arguing with opposition protesters, sparking a violent confrontation in which sticks and stones were thrown. Twenty men, in blue armbands with wooden sticks and shields, charged on the opposition, retaking the central square.

But the opposition counter-attacked, a crowd of young men and boys running at the blue lines with riot shields they had captured, sticks, and lumps of blood-spattered paving slabs pulled up from the square. A standoff began with both sides beating their shields with sticks. Among them was 11-year-old Ardujapa, whose foam and wood shield was to "protect [me] from the police". "I want to beat the soldiers," he said.

Students from the southern town of Osh ran at the blue lines, and hundreds of pro-Akayev supporters fled. But the hail of stones, bottles and sticks became so fierce the riot police fled inside the presidential compound. Inside, their commander, Abdigil Chudbayev, insisted his men "were against Akayev like the people".

It was then the police made their final move. Three mounted officers charged at the crowd; two were easily pulled from their horses and heavily beaten and the move sent protesters piling into the compound. Rainbek, 18, from Jalal Abad, bore a truncheon and shield as he burst inside. "I have no home or address," he raged, one of the many protesters whose anger at their poverty was soon to be vented on the amassed wealth of the Akayev regime.

The national guard soon retreated. By 2.55pm, the crowd had reached the administration's steps. Windows were shattered by stones and the presidential crest torn from the wall. After five minutes of resistance from inside, the crowd was in.

The destruction started. The sound of glass crunching under foot accompanied the protesters proclaiming victory to the crowd outside. Miribek, 21, wearing a black raincoat and bearing a chair leg, marched on the guarded presidential office. "I'm here for Akayev," he said.

But Mr Akayev was not in the building. Reportedly, armed special forces were on the first floor, but had been ordered not to engage. A column of about 40 troops was later seen leaving the compound, cheered by the crowd.

Meanwhile the protesters filled plastic bags or curtains with clocks, staplers, computer printers and monitors - anything to steal from a government they felt had stolen everything from them. Chingis, a senior government official, who was still inside, looked on calmly and said: "This is pure madness. Tomorrow the soldiers may come." Another official, sheltering in his office with a dozen others, said: "See how the opposition sent their kids against us. I am not afraid, but I fear for their safety."

The looting left the building skeletal. Self-appointed leaders bickered with each other as they tried to stop the looting. Outside, young men gathered around two government Mercedes, peering in their blackened windows and stroking the leather seats. Daniel, 19, said: "I have never seen bureaucrat wealth before."

In the compound, Umar Tochiev, 46, sat in a looted armchair, reading government papers. He read out one, a letter telling Mr Akayev that he had considerable support from the electorate in one region. "Bullshit" he exclaimed.

Yet amid the chaos came signs of civic responsibility. Amas, 21, was one of several people placing looted items back near the building's gates. Putting a PC monitor into the pile, he said: "It's the property of the people."

Kyrgyzstan

is a landlocked central Asian republic, home to both Russian and

military bases. Most of its 5 million people are Muslims and live in poverty after the economy collapsed in the 90s

· By the 1800s the Kyrgyz were de facto subjects of the Chinese but the 19th century saw

Russia

close in. A Kyrgyz revolt in 1916 was heavily put down by the Russian army, and the country became a full Soviet republic in 1936

· Elections were held to the Kyrgyz supreme soviet in February 1990, with the Kyrgyz Communist party walking away with nearly all the seats. After multiple ballots, Askar Akayev, a physicist, was installed as a compromise president. In August 1991, the supreme soviet reluctantly voted for independence. Akayev has run the country ever since

· Its image as a beacon of democracy in post-Soviet Asia was tarnished after the authorities jailed opposition leader Felix Kulov on embezzlement charges for seven years in 2001. The current protests began after Akayev allies won all but six seats in elections in which many opposition figures were forbidden to stand

· External debts of $2bn (£1.07bn) were about the same size as Kyrgyzstan's gross domestic product, but Akayav managed to gain a debt write-off from the Paris Club earlier this month. In a major boost to the country's economy, the group of creditor nations cancelled $124m in debt and rescheduled $431m

· The Kumtor gold mine, which was developed in a joint venture with the Canadian company Cameco Corp, accounts for 40% of the country's exports

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-03/25/content_428193.htm

Freed Kyrgyz opposition leader calls for calm
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-03-25 14:38

A Kyrgyz opposition leader called for calm on Friday after protests that saw the opposition claim power plunged into violence and looting that left the capital strewn with broken glass and blood.

President Askar Akayev fled the White House on Thursday -- the seat of government in the mountainous state -- before it was engulfed by thousands of people demonstrating against a disputed parliamentary poll and years of poverty and corruption.

Kyrgyz opposition supporters gather in President Askar Akayev's office in Bishkek , Kyrgyzstan , Thursday, March 24, 2005. An opposition leader, Ulan Shambetov, center background, sits Akayev's chair. Protesters stormed the presidential compound, seizing control of the main seat of state power after clashing with riot police. [AP]

"God forbid anybody would have to have such a revolution," Felix Kulov, freed from jail by supporters on Thursday and appointed acting interior minister, told state television. "It was a rampage of looting, just like in

Iraq

The Kyrgyz ambassador to the

United States

described events as an "anti-constitutional coup."

"This ... is an anti-constitutional coup and they are now trying to manage the situation according to their own scenario," Baktybek Adrisaev told CNN, speaking in English.

Kyrgyz opposition leader Felix Kulov addresses supporters in front of the presidential palace in Bishkek. Kyrgyz veteran leader Askar Akayev has resigned, the top opposition leader was quoted as saying by the RIA Novosti news agency.(AFP/Alexander Nemenov)
Kyrgyz opposition leader Felix Kulov addresses supporters in front of the presidential palace in Bishkek. Kyrgyz veteran leader Askar Akayev has resigned, the top opposition leader was quoted as saying by the RIA Novosti news agency.[AFP]

The events were likely to make the impoverished Central Asian State the third former Soviet state in two years to see its entrenched leadership fall to popular protest after disputed elections, following

Ukraine

and

Georgia

, but it is the only one where the protests turned violent.

At least one man was shot dead during the looting overnight and 31 police officers were wounded, some seriously, Kulov said. Gunshots rang out throughout the night in the city of 800,000.

The looting in Bishkek followed violent protests in the southern towns of Osh and Jalal Abad earlier this week.

The whereabouts of Akayev himself, who has ruled the country for 14 years, were not known. There were various unconfirmed reports he had left the country.

Parliament appointed the head of the opposition coordinating committee, Kurmanbek Bakiev, as acting prime minister. It met on Friday to discuss new ministerial positions.

Ishenbai Kadyrbekov, a former construction minister and an influential opposition leader, was named acting president.

"Former President Akayev is personally responsible for this. He had a chance to resign, instead of which he ran away," Kulov said. "The looters kept shouting 'this shop belonged to the (Akayev) family, this is why it is ours'."

A Shop assistant drags bags through the debris of the shopping center in central Bishkek, March 25, 2005. A Kyrgyz opposition leader called for calm on Friday after protests that plunged into violence and looting and left the capital strewn with broken glass and blood. [Reuters]
A shop assistant drags bags through the debris of the shopping center in central Bishkek, March 25, 2005. A Kyrgyz opposition leader called for calm on Friday after protests that plunged into violence and looting and left the capital strewn with broken glass and blood. [Reuters]

At daybreak some of Bishkek's main shopping centers, their windows all smashed, were still burning. Shop employees arriving for work started to sweep away broken glass and clear up litter.

"Let's show the world we're a civilized country," Kulov said, appealing for calm.

Kulov, 55, a former police chief and once head of the secret services, failed in a bid to become president in elections in 2000. He was appointed interior minister on Thursday.

Most of

Kyrgyzstan

's opposition leaders are former political allies of Akayev who fell out with him for one reason or another.

The

United States

has called for calm and for fresh elections to be held, following parliamentary votes in February and March denounced as rigged by the opposition.

Rumours flew that Akayev had fled the mountainous country, possibly to oil-rich neighbor

Kazakhstan

or Russia

http://www.unseulmonde.ca/external/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eurasianet.org%2Fdepartments%2Finsight%2Farticles%2Feav032505.shtml

KYRGYZSTAN’S REVOLUTION: BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR
Justin Burke: 3/25/05
A EurasiaNet Commentary

The instant analysis by many political observers, as well as the Bush administration, is to classify Kyrgyzstan as part of the global domino effect of democracy. In the former Soviet Union, popular revolutions over the past 18 months have swept away the old order first in Georgia, then in Ukraine and now in Kyrgyzstan. But the forces at work in Kyrgyzstan are markedly different than those that produced change in both Georgia and Ukraine. Indeed, Kyrgyzstan is a classic case of the maxim: Be careful what you wish for.

From a civil society perspective, a happy ending to Kyrgyzstan’s revolution is far from assured. While democracy certainly has an opportunity now to take root in a region that has so far proven inhospitable and resistant to pluralistic impulses, it could also turn out that Islamic radicalism emerges as the ultimate winner of the Kyrgyz revolution.

Georgia had the Rose Revolution, and Ukraine had the Orange Revolution. Both featured well-managed anti-government protests, in which highly organized student groups functioned as shock troops, acting under the direction of cohesive opposition political leadership. Those two revolutionary efforts also benefited by having clearly defined and charismatic leaders -- Mikheil Saakashvili in Georgia and Viktor Yushchenko in Ukraine -- espousing relatively clear political programs. All these factors helped ensure a relatively smooth transition of power.

In sharp contrast, change in Kyrgyzstan is being led by a far less disciplined force, with no widely recognized leader and no clearly defined program. It should thus not be viewed as another in a string of "velvet" revolutions. Events in Bishkek are shaping up to be revolutionary in a more classic sense, meaning that it could take months or even years for the country to regain a sense of political equilibrium. The unleashed fury of the Kyrgyz mob may prove not easily contained.

The anarchy that engulfed Bishkek immediately upon the collapse of President Askar Akayev’s administration is symptomatic of the broad and volatile problems that confront Kyrgyzstan’s new leadership team, which is a tenuous alliance of former opposition politicians who have little track record of cooperating with each other.

The anti-government protests that morphed into a frenzy of looting and vandalism could give way to civil conflict. Inter-ethnic tensions, as well as North-South sectional differences, have long been features of Kyrgyzstan’s social and political life. Those tensions and differences are coming under strain as the revolution plays out.

Allegations of vote-rigging served as the catalyst for the Kyrgyz revolution. But it was pent-up frustration among the population over persistent poverty and pervasive government corruption that packed the revolution with its explosive power. Many supporters of the revolution aren’t necessarily interested in democracy; they are preoccupied simply with providing for themselves and their families.

Since the start of the end-game for the Akayev administration – when protesters seized government buildings in Jalal-Abad and Osh in the wake of the second round of parliamentary voting on March 13 – the president’s political opponents never demonstrated that they had firm control over the crowds of demonstrators. Political leaders, including the new interim president, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, have admitted that when anti-government protesters gathered on March 24, they had no idea that the day would end with the collapse of Akayev’s administration.

The new leadership team, which includes long-time Akayev political opponents, sought to boost its legitimacy on March 25 after officially forming a provisional government. Bakiyev was named prime minister, which automatically made him interim president. Meanwhile, another prominent opposition politician, Feliks Kulov, was handed the interior ministry portfolio.

As the provisional government tried to get on its feet, Bishkek remained paralyzed. Banks, shops and offices were shuttered. In the absence of any government and law-enforcement presence, some citizens were taking matters into their own hands by organizing neighborhood watch committees. With a climate of fear still prevailing, most residents remained indoors. Reports of people continuing to stream into the capital from other regions, looking for opportunities to loot, fueled anxiety in the capital.

Re-establishing a sense of order in Bishkek poses an immediate test for the provisional government. When in opposition, the political leaders did not demonstrate an inclination towards unity – a fact that Akayev often exploited to his political advantage. The opposition leaders came together, setting aside personal rivalries, only during the political dispute over the recent rounds of parliamentary voting on February 27 and March 13. [For additional information see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Their political bonds still are not firmly cemented.

Now, suddenly finding themselves thrust into power, these same political leaders could again start pulling in different directions. On the one hand, they need to cooperate in order to foster a sense of order. At the same time, they will doubtless experience competitive pressure in the coming days and months, as many of them – Bakiyev and Kulov in particular – jockey to position themselves for the presidency. Preliminary discussions in Bishkek have raised the possibility of a presidential election being held in late spring, with a new parliamentary vote to follow in the fall.

As the leadership team tries to keep personal rivalries in check, it will have to struggle with questions concerning its legitimacy. Such questions will likely grow the longer the situation in Bishkek remains disorderly. The most contentious issue surrounds the Kyrgyz legislature. The new unicameral Kyrgyz parliament -- whose deputies were elected during the recent and supposedly fraudulent election -- held one session on March 22. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. The Supreme Court annulled the voting results on March 24, effectively disbanding the unicameral legislature. At the same time, it remains unclear if the mandate of the old bicameral parliament remains valid. It was a rump session of that bicameral parliament, hastily convened on March 24, that appointed the members of the provisional government.

Akayev further clouded the situation by not formally resigning. In a statement, distributed by the Kabar news agency, he characterized events of March 24 as a "coup," adding that "rumors about my resignation from the presidential post are deceitful and malevolent." At a March 25 news conference, Interim Foreign Minister Roza Otunbayeva reflected the evident frustration felt by many in the provisional government when she said former officials still loyal to the president provoked "the marauding of shops and trade centers."

Already, the economic devastation caused by the looting rampage has severely eroded support for the provisional government among the Bishkek business sector. Small entrepreneurs had grown frustrated with the corruption prevalent under Akayev’s administration, and thus many were amenable to the idea of political change. But the reality of the revolution has rendered many entrepreneurs penniless -- literally overnight. Thus, a natural and key constituency for democratic change has evaporated. Considerable effort will be required for the provisional government to regain the trust of Bishkek entrepreneurs.

If the provisional government does not manage to quickly restore order, there exists the potential for the Kyrgyz revolution to become a contagion that spreads to other parts of the country, and even beyond Kyrgyzstan’s borders. The immediate danger is that the riotous instinct that now grips Bishkek could transform into more organized violence that pits Kyrgyz against Kyrgyz.

Many in Bishkek are blaming the March 24 looting frenzy on people from outside the capital, specifically on southerners who arrived to participate in the anti-government protest. This assumption, regardless of whether it has a basis in fact or not, is greatly exacerbating pre-existing North-South tension. A continuation of disorder would raise the odds that newly formed Bishkek self-defense groups could take justice into their own hands, venting their anger on anyone in the capital identified as a southerner.

Meanwhile, southern Kyrgyzstan, the greenhouse of the revolution, is especially vulnerable to inter-ethnic strife. The region is home to a large Uzbek minority. Kyrgyz and Uzbeks engaged in bloody clashes in and around Osh in the early 1990s. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Any outbreak of widespread looting in the region could easily spark renewed hostility between Uzbeks and Kyrgyz. In addition, most Uzbeks are reportedly lukewarm at best in their support for the revolution. Many Uzbeks viewed Akayev’s administration as a barrier against Kyrgyz nationalist sentiment, which runs strong in the South.

The actions of neighboring Central Asian state demonstrate that their authoritarian-minded leaders are profoundly worried by the spontaneous combustion of popular discontent in Bishkek. As in Kyrgyzstan, widespread poverty and corruption, along with unresponsive government, are prevalent in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. All of Kyrgyzstan’s direct neighbors – Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan – have sealed their borders. In perhaps the clearest sign that regional leaders consider the Kyrgyz revolution to be highly contagious, state-controlled media outlets in neighboring Central Asian states remained virtually silent about the events in Bishkek.

Unity will be needed for Kyrgyzstan to move forward -- for genuinely democratic tendencies to take root, and for a sense of hope about the country’s economic future to spread beyond a relatively narrow segment of Kyrgyz society. Unfortunately, the Kyrgyz revolution seems to be stoking divisions in society. The provisional government -- given its current shape, in particular its reliance on elements of the old regime to provide security -- will be hard-pressed to repair the damage already done, let alone put the country on a path forward.

It is not too early to start worrying about the nightmare scenario of the Kyrgyz revolution -- one in which early hopes for a democratic transformation mutate into anxiety about the spread of Islamic radicalism. The experience of Afghanistan underscores that Islamic radicalism thrives in uncertain political environments. Islamic radical groups have long been present in Kyrgyzstan, mainly in southern areas, but also in the North. In 1999 and 2000, the country faced incursions by armed bands belongs to the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. In recent years, an extremist group that espouses non-violence tactics, Hizb-ut-Tahrir, has intensified its agit-prop activities aimed at overthrowing all the existing regimes in Central Asia and establishing an Islamic caliphate. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

The next few weeks are critical. If the provisional government can harness the revolutionary forces and keep political infighting to a minimum until new presidential and parliamentary elections are held, Kyrgyzstan will stand a chance of establishing Central Asia’s first genuinely pluralistic political system. However, there is no guarantee at this time that the provisional government can accomplish these basic tasks. If it falters, and if Kyrgyzstan is saddled with a weak central government, Islamic radical groups may find themselves a new safe haven for international terrorist operations.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,12650532%255E23109,00.html

KYRGYZSTAN

'S opposition seized the main government building in the capital today and said it was ready to take control of the Central Asian country after days of violent protest.

Impoverished

Kyrgyzstan

looks set to become the third ex-Soviet state in two years to see its entrenched leadership fall to popular protests after disputed elections, following

Ukraine

and

Georgia

Thousands of opposition protesters, cheered on by residents, took to the streets of the capital Bishkek to demand veteran President Askar Akayev resign and annul what they say were fraudulent parliamentary election results.

"We will establish order. We will not allow looting. We will hold our own elections to start our rule," former prime minister and opposition figure Kurmanbek Bakiev said after the government headquarters had fallen into the hands of protesters.

Demonstrators then marched to a prison outside the town and secured the release of Felix Kulov, a former police chief who is seen as another of the opposition's main leaders. He was being held for abuse of power and theft.

Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev has resigned in response to the uprising, the Itar-Tass news agency quoted an unnamed Kyrgyz opposition official as saying today.

As the hordes descended, Mr Akayev left the country with his family towards Moscow , Interfax reported today citing unnamed sources.

The whereabouts of 60-year-old Akayev had been unknown since thousands of opposition supporters armed with rocks and clubs took over

Kyrgyzstan

's main seat of power.

The local head of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), whose monitors criticised the February, March elections as flawed, said Mr Akayev might have left the country.

Imprisoned Kyrgyz opposition leader Felix Kulov was freed as protesters took control of key government facilities, the Interfax news agency cited opposition sources as saying.

Mr Kulov, once a vice president under embattled President Askar Akayev, was imprisoned in 2000 under embezzlement charges that supporters said were politically motivated.

His release could be a key element in unifying the Kyrgyz opposition, which until now has lacked a single clear leader.

Kyrgyz opposition supporters also today took over the state television building in Bishkek, Interfax reported.

The protesters entered the building after storming the main seat of government in the Central Asian nation, chasing away hundreds of riot police.

State television has not reported today's protest, nor the weeks-long demonstrations that have shaken the nation's volatile south.

"Our nation has suffered incredibly ... the people and I myself are ready to cut Akayev's throat with our own teeth. If he doesn't step down we will topple him by force," said protester Talant Kushpakov, 30.

Earlier this week the opposition took control of two key towns in

Kyrgyzstan

's poorer south, scene of bloody ethnic conflict in the dying days of the Soviet Union , where resentment is strong against the better off north.

Thousands of protesters were repelled in their first bid to enter the heavily defended White House - the seat of government. But, on their second attempt, security forces moved out of the way and let them in.

One protester could be seen waving a flag from the second floor. Above, another protester tossed documents out to the cheering crowd of thousands below. The square nearby was splattered with pools of blood.

"This is a popular revolution and the power is in the hands of the people, we don't fear anyone any more," said Askat Dukenbayev, a professor from the local American University .

At least 30 people were reported injured in the clashes with pro-Akayev supporters in Bishkek, a city of 800,000.

Many demonstrators wore pink and yellow arm bands which are rapidly becoming the colors of anti-Akayev protest - much as orange was the campaign color in

Ukraine

and the red rose the symbol of the opposition in

Georgia

Unlike

Ukraine

and

Georgia

, there is no single unifying opposition leader in

Kyrgyzstan

. But Mr Bakiev played a leading role in events today and could turn out to be a key figure.

The unrest there is certain to unnerve the autocratic, mostly pro-Moscow leaders in the rest of ex-Soviet Central Asia compared to whom Akayev was relatively liberal.

Rulers in the region have largely responded to people power protests elsewhere by clamping down on an already weakened opposition.

Earlier Mr Akayev's newly-appointed interior minister and hard-line former top policeman hinted he would have little tolerance for anything but peaceful protest.

"We ask (the protesters) not to destroy, not to loot, not to storm state buildings and shops. I will never give an order to use arms against peaceable people," Interior Minister Keneshbek Dushebayev told reporters.

The country of 5 million borders

China

and lies in an energy-rich region where Washington and Moscow vie for influence. Both powers have military bases outside the capital.

http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2005/03/cbc9c4c2-c8ff-40c7-aec4-3f4d96427da5.html

Friday, 25 March 2005
Revolution In Kyrgyzstan: A Timeline

The following is a timeline of major developments in Kyrgyzstan, beginning with the disputed 27 February parliamentary elections and ending with the mass protests in the capital, Bishkek, on 24 March that toppled the government.

24 March 2005

Several thousand opposition supporters storm and ransack the government building in Bishkek. Ousted President Askar Akaev's whereabouts are unknown, although reports say he has left the country. Looting is reported in Bishkek at shops and buildings, some of them known to be owned by Akaev and his relatives. Kyrgyz national television reports three people died during the turmoil. More than 170 were reported hospitalized.

Kyrgyz ambassador to the U.S. Baktybek Abdrissaev says Akaev is in "a safe place" and has not resigned.

The outgoing parliament appoints the head of the opposition People's Movement of Kyrgyzstan, Kurmanbek Bakiev, as acting prime minister and Ishenbai Kadyrbekov as interim president. Bakiev, a former Kyrgyz prime minister, pledges to hold new elections.

Protesters release former Bishkek mayor and opposition Ar-Namys party chairman Feliks Kulov from prison. Parliament appoints Kulov to post of National Security director.

23 March 2005

No substantive talks take place between the government and opposition.

President Akaev fires Interior Minister Bakirdin Subanbekov and Prosecutor-General Myktybek Abdyldaev. New Interior Minister Keneshbek Dushebaev says police can use "any legal means" to establish "constitutional order."

Newly appointed Prosecutor-General Murat Sutalinov says he has begun a criminal case against Bakiev. Sutalinov says Bakiev is suspected of serious crimes, including attempted seizure of power.

22 March 2005

President Akaev affirms his desire to "achieve normalization through negotiations," but says the opposition is too fragmented for talks. He also says there are no grounds for annulling the results of the parliamentary elections and that demonstrations cannot cause his resignation. He condemns "homegrown revolutionaries," but says he will not declare a state of emergency or use force to quell protests. He calls the situation a "temporary, passing phenomenon."

Kyrgyzstan

's newly elected unicameral parliament holds its first session. Opposition lawmakers do not attend.

Opposition forces continue to control the southern cities of Jalal-Abad and Osh . Protesters are also reportedly in control of the regional administration buildings in Batken and Kadamzhay. Protestors also continue to occupy government offices in Kochkor.

21 March 2005

Opposition forces control the southern cities of Jalal-Abad and Osh and demand the resignation of President Akaev. Thousands-strong opposition rallies take place in both cities. Reports quote local police as saying they will obey the pro-opposition "people's power."

President Akaev asks the heads of the Central Election Commission and the Supreme Court to review parliamentary election results in certain districts.

Russia

's "Vremya novostei" suggests Akaev softened his position after a secret visit to Moscow . Kyrgyz officials deny Akaev traveled to Moscow .

Bolot Januzakov, deputy head of the presidential administration, says Akaev and Prime Minister Nikolai Tanaev are ready to hold talks with the opposition, but only if protest actions stop.

20 March 2005

Riot police storm provincial administrative offices in Jalal-Abad and Osh to evict protesters who have been occupying the buildings. After police regain control, a crowd of more than 10,000 protesters gathers in Jalal-Abad. They seize and burn local police offices and later take control of the mayor's office and the airport. Police fire warning shots, but do not fire on demonstrators. By the end of the day, Jalal-Abad is reported to be largely under the control of protesters. Unconfirmed reports say four to 10 people are killed in the day's violence. Government spokesmen deny any fatalities.

Kyrgyz Prime Minister Tanaev announces he has spoken with Bektur Asanov, an opposition leader in Jalal-Abad, and that the government and opposition will hold talks. But opposition leader Kurmanbek Bakiev says the opposition will only agree to talks on the condition that President Akaev take part in them.

The OSCE and U.S. State Department express concern over developments and call for restraint.

18 March 2005

Antigovernment demonstrators seize the provincial administrative offices in Osh .

17 March 2005

Protests continue in a number of regions. In the Kochkor District of Naryn Oblast, up to 3,000 people demand the resignation of Governor Shamshybek Medetbekov and President Akaev as 200 protesters occupy local government offices. In the Toktogul District of Jalal-Abad Oblast, activists seize local government offices and demand the annulment of second-round election results. In Talas, opposition leaders are unable to hold a rally after authorities close a road leading to the city. In Osh , several thousand people take part in a pro-government demonstration.

Imprisoned opposition figure Feliks Kulov says President Akaev can restore stability by resigning. Kulov also says he does not rule out a run for the presidency in the October elections.

Deputy Prime Minister Toktosh Aitikeeva says political "extremism" could cause delays in the payment of salaries and pensions. The Foreign Ministry criticizes the opposition for encouraging "civil disobedience." Boris Poluektov, first deputy chairman of the National Security Service, says "there is every sign of [an attempt at] unlawful seizure of power in the actions of the opposition." But Poluektov stresses "the situation is under control."

Krgyzstan's Foreign Ministry disputes critical comments made the day before by U.S. Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Stephen Young about the parliamentary elections. The ministry notes the judicial system is "entirely independent" and stresses that decisions to remove candidates from races affected both opposition and pro-government candidates.

16 March 2005

Kyrgyz Interior Ministry officers free an administration official in Jalal-Abad Oblast who was being held hostage in a state office building by antigovernment protesters. A group of more than 600 demonstrators also seizes a local government building in Kochkor, in eastern Naryn Oblast. Opposition demonstrators seize another local government office in Uzgen.

Two officials being held captive in Talas are released by demonstrators.

U.S. Ambassador Stephen Young criticizes the Kyrgz government for failing to ensure free parliamentary elections. Young says the 13 March runoff and the 27 February first round were marred by media harassment, government interference in the campaign process, media bias in favor of pro-government candidates, and the disqualification of opposition candidates.

15 March 2005

Protests over the parliamentary elections spread. Demonstrators seize a government building in northern Talas Oblast and hold oblast Governor Iskender Aidaraliev and another local official captive. Opposition leaders in Bishkek deny any link to the Talas protesters and warn the situation there could slip out of control.

President Akaev accuses the opposition of trying to drag the country into civil war. He says, "Those guilty of organizing disorder and destabilizing the situation in certain regions will without fail be punished."

The U.S. State Department criticizes the elections and calls on the Kyrgyz government to use peaceful means to quell protests. It says the

United States

shares the assessment of the OSCE that the poll did not meet international standards.

14 March 2005

According to results available for 71 of the 75 seats in

Kyrgyzstan

's new unicameral parliament, the opposition will control about 10 percent of the legislature. Preliminary results of the 13 March runoffs also indicate that one of the opposition leaders, Kurmanbek Bakiev, failed to win a seat. Opposition leaders point to numerous violations and question the legitimacy of the vote. A presidential spokesman says the results reflect a lack of popular support for the opposition.

The OSCE says that while the "right to assembly was more fully respected in the period between the two rounds of elections," numerous flaws noted in the first round were repeated, including bias in the media, continued de-registration of candidates on minor grounds, and poorly maintained voter lists.

Preliminary results from the 13 March runoffs spark protests in Uzgen, Osh Oblast, and elsewhere. In Uzgen, more than 1,000 protesters take over local government offices. In the Alay district of Osh Oblast, demonstrators block roads. In Talas Oblast, up to 5,000 opposition supporters block roads and protest in front of local government offices. Protests are also reported in Jalal-Abad, Batken, and Talas.

Central Election Commission Chairman Sulaiman Imanbaev criticizes protesters for "backtracking on democratic and legal principles," but says commission members have been sent to Uzgen and Alay district to review complaints.

13 March 2005

Runoff elections to

Kyrgyzstan

's parliament take place in 39 districts. With most ballots counted, winners include Bermet Akaeva, daughter of President Akaev, and opposition figures Dooronbek Sadyrbaev, Omurbek Tekebaev, and Bolotbek Sherniyazov. In the Tong District, where first-round elections had been postponed until 13 March after protests, elections results are pronounced invalid after a majority cast ballots "against all."

Protests in Osh , Jalal-Abad, and other regions continue. Some 2,000 protesters in Jalal-Abad and 500 protesters in Osh demand the resignation of President Akaev and a pre-term presidential election.

12 March 2005

Rights activists say up to 30 people are arrested during election protests in Naryn.

11 March 2005

Approximately 4,000 protesters gather in Jalal-Abad to demand the resignation of President Akaev and a pre-term presidential election.

A presidential spokesman says illegal protests demanding the resignation of President Akaev and pre-term elections could force the president to confirm his power through a referendum.

10 March 2005

Twenty opposition parliamentary deputies issue an appeal after failing to gain a quorum for an emergency joint session of the legislature. The appeal expresses a lack of confidence in the Central Election Commission and calls on President Akaev to set presidential elections, scheduled for October, for July and to extend the current parliament's powers until November. Deputies are forced to meet on the street after police encircle the parliament building. The deputies describe police actions as "a coup that has halted one of the branches of government."

Police in Naryn use force to disperse demonstrators protesting election fraud. Police arrest 40 protesters but later release them.

In his first public comment on the protests, President Akaev praises the 27 February vote. The president blames the protests on "irresponsible political operators who are ready to sacrifice innocent people for their ambitions and craving for power."

9 March 2005

The OSCE says

Kyrgyzstan

's opposition should observe the country's laws in its election-related protests. It says "flaws in the election process cannot give cause to occupy government buildings and block roads." The OSCE also praises Kyrgyz authorities for their "patience and competence" in responding to demonstrations.

Two-hundred protesters from the Karakulja District arrive in Osh , where they call for the resignation of President Akaev, urge pre-term presidential elections, and condemned election fraud. Mayor Satybaldy Chyrmashev says the authorities will do what is necessary to prevent tensions from rising. Demonstrations also continue for a fifth day in Jalal-Abad.

Parliamentary committees meet to discuss the possibility of an emergency joint session of the legislature to review the tense political situation.

8 March 2005

Protests related to the first round of

Kyrgyzstan

's parliamentary elections continue in Osh , Uzgen, and Jalal-Abad.

Bektur Asanov, a member of the outgoing parliament, says 40 legislators now support the opposition's initiative to hold an emergency session of parliament on 10 March.

7 March 2005

Roza Otunbaeva, co-chair of the Ata-Jurt bloc, and Ishengul Boljurova, one of the leaders of the People's Movement of Kyrgyzstan, say the opposition wants to call an emergency session of parliament to address the political crisis. In light of fraud allegations, they say the current parliament's powers should be extended, presidential elections held within the next three months, and new parliamentary elections held after that. Otunbaeva says the Forum of Political Forces, an umbrella group that brings together five opposition blocs, is capable of ruling the country, but that any transfer of power should take place within the framework of the constitution.

Protests continue in Jalal-Abad, Osh , and Naryn provinces. In Jalal-Abad, a crowd of 1,500-2,000 demonstrates in front of the provincial administration and calls for the resignation of President Akaev. A counterdemonstration with 1,000 supporters of President Akaev also takes place in Jalal-Abad. A group of approximately 150 demonstrators continues to occupy the administration. In the Uzgen district of Osh Province, 1,000 protesters take over the district administration in the course of a protest against election fraud.

A presidential spokesman says there are no grounds for declaring a state of emergency. He says the opposition's attempt to provoke a crisis will prove unsuccessful.

6 March 2005

Up to 3,000 antigovernment demonstrators protest in Jalal-Abad. Demonstrations also take place in Naryn Province . Naryn Governor Shamshybek Medetbekov, who is briefly detained by protesters, promises a timely review of one candidate's disqualification.

5 March 2005

Kyrgyz Prime Minister Nikolai Tanaev says the government is playing a "waiting game" with protesters, but warned the instigators will be punished.

Bolot Januzakov, deputy head of the presidential administration, says the protests are a pre-planned power grab by the opposition and claims demonstrators are being paid.

Demonstrators continue to occupy the provincial administration center in Jalal-Abad.

4 March 2005

In Jalal-Abad, some 1,000 protesters gather to support parliamentary candidate Jusupbek Bakiev, brother of People's Movement of Kyrgyzstan leader Kurmanbek Bakiev, and condemn election fraud and pressure by the authorities.

Demonstrators occupy the provincial administration center in Jalal-Abad and demand the resignation of President Akaev.

Opposition leader Kurmanbek Bakiev calls for an emergency session of parliament to review the tense political situation in the country and examine the possibility of holding presidential elections before the currently scheduled date of October.

3 March 2005

An explosion occurs at the Bishkek apartment of Roza Otunbaeva, co-chairwoman of the opposition Ata-Jurt bloc. No one is injured. Police find shrapnel at the scene, suggesting it was a grenade. Otunbaeva says the incident "bears the imprint, the attitude, of the Kyrgyz government toward the opposition." Her comments are dismissed by a presidential spokesman.

2 March 2005

Opposition leader Kurmanbek Bakiev says the first round of parliamentary elections on 27 February was marred by numerous violations.

Bolot Januzakov, first deputy head of the Kyrgyz presidential administration, and Foreign Minister Askar Aitmatov propose an investigation into the shutoff of power to an independent printing house in Bishkek in the run-up to the 27 February parliamentary elections. They deny the incident was linked to political concerns.

1 March 2005

Approximately 3,000 election protesters unblock the Osh-Aravan highway after a court in Aravan district agrees to hear a local candidate's complaint. Six hundred other protesters block the Osh-Karasuu highway over a similar complaint.

Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Askar Aitmatov says the ministry does not accept the OSCE's preliminary report on the 27 February elections. The OSCE says the vote "fell short of OSCE commitments and other international standards in a number of important areas."

28 February 2005

Sulaiman Imanbaev, the head of Kyrgyzstan's Central Election Commission, says 31 candidates scored first-round victories in the 27 February elections. Second-round races, in which 86 candidates will compete for 44 seats, will be held in two weeks. Among the candidates vying in second-round races are opposition figures Adakham Madumarov, Dooronbek Sadyrbaev, Kurmanbek Bakiev, Omurbek Tekebaev, Iskhak Masaliev, Marat Sultanov, and Ishenbai Kadyrbekov.

A majority of voters in Kochkor District, which witnessed large-scale protests in the lead-up to the elections, vote against all candidates, triggering a second round of voting.

Kyrgyzstan

's opposition holds a rally in Bishkek with at least 300 people to protest the conduct of the 27 February elections. They denounce violations of the election law and government attempts to muzzle the independent media.

Between 1,000 to 3,000 protesters gather in the Aravan District of Osh Province to voice support for Tursunbai Alimov, the current administrative head of the Aravan District, who is trailing his opponent, Makhammadjan Mamasaidov, by a thin margin.

International observers from the CIS and OSCE offer differing assessments of the 27 February elections. Asan Kozhakov, head of the CIS observer mission, notes some irregularities but deems the elections "transparent, open, and legitimate." Kimmo Kiljunen, who heads the OSCE observer mission, says the elections, "while more competitive than previous elections, fell short of OSCE commitments and other international standards in a number of important areas."

27 February 2005

Kyrgyzstan

holds elections to its 75-seat unicameral parliament. Turnout is around 60 percent, somewhat lower than in the 2000 elections. The highest turnout is in Talas, Jalal-Abad, and Bakten oblasts, which all top 65 percent, and the lowest in the capital, Bishkek, which registers 46 percent turnout.

As he casts his vote, President Akaev announces he will not change the constitution to extend his term in office.

Prominent Kyrgyz opposition figures, including Roza Otunbaeva, Muratbek Imanaliev, Ishengul Boljurova, and Topchubek Turgunaliev, say numerous violations place the legitimacy of the elections in doubt.

Kyrgyzstan

's Foreign Ministry says it has delivered an official note to the U.S. Embassy criticizing comments by U.S. Ambassador Stephen Young as "impermissible." Young had said "significant problems in the conduct of elections will harm the image and reputation of

Kyrgyzstan

as a country that is a leader in conducting democratic reforms." A statement describes Young's comments as "an attempt to interfere in the country's internal affairs."

(Compiled from RFE/RL and wire service reports.)

http://www.tsr.ch/tsr/index.html?siteSect=200003&sid=5629069

L'ancien Premier ministre kirghize Kourmankev Bakiev annonce avoir été nommé à la tête de l'Etat par le parlement. [Keystone]

L'ancien Premier ministre kirghize Kourmankev Bakiev, un dirigeant de l'opposition, a annoncé vendredi avoir été nommé président et Premier ministre par intérim par le parlement.

La nuit a été très agitée à Bichkek, où la foule a procédé à des pillages en règles de magasins, en décrétant que ceux-ci avaient appartenu à l'ancien dirigeant dont on est sans nouvelle précise.

Jeudi, le président kirghize Askar Akaïev a quitté le siège du gouvernement à Bichkek avant qu'il ne soit investi par une foule de plusieurs milliers de manifestants exigeant sa démission.

"Le parlement m'a nommé aujourd'hui Premier ministre et m'a également confié les fonctions de président", a déclaré Bakiev à un rassemblement de ses partisans dans la capitale. "J'exerce à présent les fonctions de Premier ministre et de

Jeudi, Ichenbai Kadyrbekov, un ancien ministre du Bâtiment et un responsable influent de l'opposition, avait été désigné président par intérim et Bakiev Premier ministre, mais ce dernier semble donc assumer les deux fonctions.

Un autre responsable de l'opposition a lancé un appel au calme après les violences et les pillages qui ont suivi l'arrivée de l'opposition au pouvoir.

"Dieu garde quiconque de connaître une telle révolution", a déclaré Felix Koulov, libéré de prison par ses partisans jeudi, et nommé ministre de l'Intérieur par intérim, à la télévision nationale. "C'était une débauche de pillages, comme en Irak."

Selon des analystes, de fortes rivalités opposent les différents leaders de l'opposition kirghize, et Koulov serait plus populaire que Bakiev.

L'ambassadeur de Kirghizie aux Etats-Unis a qualifié de "coup d'Etat anticonstitutionnel" l'arrivée de l'opposition au pouvoir à Bichkek.

"Cette affaire est clairement un coup d'Etat anticonstitutionnel et ils vont maintenant s'efforcer de gérer la situation selon leur propre scénario", a déclaré Baktybek Adrissaïev, sur l'antenne de CNN

"Mais c'est absolument illégal et anticonstitutionnel, une violation de la Constitution", a-t-il insisté, s'exprimant en anglais.

Cet ancien chef de la police et ex-chef des services secrets âgé de 55 ans s'était présenté sans succès à l'élection présidentielle de 2000.

http://www.edicom.ch/news/international/050326131501.sa.shtml

BICHKEK (AP) - Après le renversement du régime du président kirghize Askar Akaïev et deux nuits d'émeutes, une élection présidentielle a été fixée samedi au 26 juin prochain par le Parlement de cette petite république d'Asie centrale.

Ce scrutin devrait permettre de désigner le successeur du président Akaïev, qui a semble-t-il trouvé refuge en Russie, où il est arrivé vendredi soir en provenance du Kazakhstan, selon l'agence russe Interfax. Le président russe Vladimir Poutine avait fait savoir vendredi qu'il n'avait aucune objection à la venue du dirigeant kirghize en fuite.

Si une présidentielle se profile, on ignore pour l'heure si des élections législatives seront également organisées. Les dernières législatives ont entraîné l'actuelle insurrection avant d'être annulées par la Cour suprême, qui a déclaré valide la précédente assemblée.

Dans ce climat de changement de régime, émaillé de violences sporadiques, trois personnes au moins ont été tuées au cours de heurts entre pillards présumés et policiers à Bichkek, la capitale kirghize, dans la nuit de vendredi à samedi. C'est du moins ce qu'a annoncé un dirigeant de l'opposition kirghize, dont la formation a apporté son aide à la police pour rétablir l'ordre.

»Il y a eu des affrontements, notamment des affrontements armés, et trois pillards ont été tués», a déclaré Iskander Chamchïev, chef du Mouvement de la jeunesse du Kirghizstan, à l'Associated Press.

Le ministère kirghize de l'Intérieur a pour sa part refusé de fournir un bilan de ces violences, qui interviennent dans le sillage de cette révolution éclair jusqu'alors pacifique.

Le correspondant à Bichkek de la chaîne publique russe Rossïa a pour sa part rapporté que les accrochages survenus dans la capitale kirghize avaient fait six morts et une soixantaine de blessés.

Pourtant, à en croire le porte-parole du ministère de l'Intérieur, Nourdine Jangaraïev, «tout était normal la nuit dernière» et même »en amélioration par rapport aux nuits précédentes». AP

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1542416,00.html

The view through the shattered window of the presidential office was not so rosy after renewed looting (DAVID MOZINARISHVILI / REUTERS)

After the triumph, the looting: 'It's not a revolution, it's chaos'
From Jeremy Page in Bishkek

GUNFIRE echoed across Bishkek last night as

Kyrgyzstan

’s new leaders tried to quell looting that erupted after President Akayev was ousted in the third revolution in a former Soviet republic in 18 months.

Police and civilian vigilantes fired shots in the air and fought running battles with crowds of drunk young men beginning a second night of looting in the Kyrgyz capital.

“The city looks as if it has gone mad,” said Felix Kulov, the opposition leader released from prison on Thursday and appointed as security chief of an interim government.

“It’s an orgy,” he said. “We have arrested many people; we are trying to do something, but we physically lack people.”

Mr Akayev fled the country on Thursday after tens of thousands of opposition demonstrators overcame riot police and ransacked the presidential headquarters in protest at rigged parliamentary elections.

The opposition leaders who claimed his place have struggled to fill the power vacuum.

Yesterday they declared a 6pm to 6am curfew in the capital, but with streetlights out and many police still too scared to return to work some looters paid it little heed.

“The only way to stop this is to shoot someone, but I’ve been ordered not to,” said one police officer after firing in the air to scare off a dozen looters carting food and drink through the smashed windows of a grocery store in the city centre.

Kalbai Osmonulu, the owner, was cowering around the corner, his face bleeding from a scuffle with the youths.

“Bastards!” he said. “This not a revolution, this is just chaos!” Mr Akayev issued a statement from a secret location saying that he was still the President of Kyrgyzstan and would return. “A bunch of irresponsible adventurers and conspirators has taken the path of seizing power with force,” he said in the statement sent by e-mail to Kabar, the Kyrgyz news agency. He denied reports that he had resigned and urged those who had supported the “anti-constitutional coup” to restore constitutional order.

The chaos in Bishkek and Mr Akayev’s defiant words threatened to derail what opposition leaders have compared to the peaceful revolutions in

Ukraine

last year and

Georgia

in 2003.

The

United States

was demonstratively guarded in its response to the past two days’ events, describing the situation as “fluid” and refusing to endorse the new government. “Right now we’re not becoming involved in questions concerning recognition,” a State Department official said.

But the Opposition won an unexpected victory yesterday when President Putin of

Russia

declared that he was ready to work with them. “We know these people pretty well and they have done quite a lot to establish good relations between

Russia

and

Kyrgyzstan

,” Mr Putin said.

Russia

had earlier condemned the protests as unlawful and accused Western observers of fomenting unrest by declaring the parliamentary elections undemocratic.

Russian officials accuse Western governments of funding and training opposition parties in former Soviet states to erode Moscow ’s traditional sphere of influence.

Russia

and the

both have military bases in

Kyrgyzstan

, which they see as valuable strategic footholds in a volatile and energy-rich region on the borders of

China

Yesterday

China

closed a border crossing between its western Xinjiang region and

Kyrgyzstan

, citing the chaos in Bishkek and the need to guarantee the safety of passengers and freight.

China

has concerns the strife in

Kyrgyzstan

may spill over the border to Xinjiang, where many Muslim Uighurs hope for greater autonomy. Beijing has waged a relentless campaign against separatists in the desert region.

The Kyrgyz Opposition won just six out of 75 seats in parliament in the recent elections. Opposition leaders accused Mr Akayev of packing parliament with his friends and relatives so that they could change the constitution to prolong his rule.

Late on Thursday the parliament that was sitting before the election named Kurmanbek Bakiyev, the opposition leader, as acting Prime Minister and President. “Freedom has finally come to us,” Mr Bakiyev told a crowd in the central square where Thursday’s riot began.

He told The Times: “Our priority is to restore stability and order on the streets. The police will return to their jobs tonight and take all necessary steps to keep the peace.” Three people were killed and at least 100 hurt including 31 police officers, in the looting on Thursday night.

Mr Bakiyev later appointed prominent opposition figures to the posts of foreign, defence and finance ministers, and chief prosecutor. As Interior Minister, he picked Myktybek Abdyldayev, who was dismissed by Mr Akayev as Prosecutor-General on Wednesday.

Roza Otunbayeva, an opposition leader and former Ambassador to

Britain

, was named Foreign Minister. Mr Bakiyev also appointed governors of the northern Chui and the southern Osh and Jalalabad regions, which opposition protesters seized last weekend.

There was confusion about the whereabouts of the deposed President. Mr Putin suggested that Mr Akayev could go to

Russia

. But Mr Kulov said Mr Akayev had been turned away by

Russia

. Interfax reported that Mr Akayev and his family were in

Kazakhstan

. But an official there said he had left.

http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/international/index.ssf?/base/international-11/1111825154254200.xml&storylist=international

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (AP) — A semblance of calm returned to Kyrgyzstan's capital Saturday after two nights of looting and sporadic gunfire that followed the ouster of longtime President Askar Akayev, while rival lawmakers struggled for legitimacy in the wake of the opposition takeover.

Iskander Shamshiyev, an opposition leader whose organization has been working with police to restore order, said three looters were killed overnight and there were a number of clashes.

An Interior Ministry spokesman, Nurdin Jangarayev, made no mention of bloodshed. "Everything was normal last night — better than the previous night. We were working with volunteers all night. We have calmed the people down," he said.

The parliament set June 26 as the date for elections to replace Akayev, the Interfax news agency reported. It was not immediately clear whether elections would also be called for parliament.

Akayev apparently has not resigned and the technical legitimacy of the new leaders in power in

Kyrgyzstan

remained unclear, as did the ousted leader's whereabouts. The Interfax news agency, citing unspecified sources, said he had arrived in

Russia

from

Kazakhstan

Friday night. The Kremlin press service, the Foreign Ministry and the Kyrgyz Embassy all declined comment.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had said on Friday that

Russia

would not object if Akayev wanted to come to the country.

Overnight Saturday, hundreds of youths roamed the streets of the capital, wielding sticks and throwing stones at cars. Helmeted police in bulletproof vests chased the rowdy crowds and fired shots in the air, and volunteers urged out by the interim government helped police in their quest to restore order — a major test of the former opposition leaders now in charge.

The city quieted as night drew on, a cold rain helping to deter crowds, though gutted shopping centers and looted stores stood in the morning as signs of the mayhem that marred celebrations of the stunningly swift change of power.

In the parliament building, members of the newly restored legislature — lawmakers who served before disputed February and March elections that led to the protests that brought down the government — met in one room, while politicians elected in the recent voting gathered in another.

The Supreme Court has invalidated the recent elections, which the opposition said was marred by fraud. But the winners challenged the authority of the restored parliament.

"Our opinion is that we should be the legitimate lawmakers, because the people have chosen us," one winner, Roman Shin, said. He said the former lawmakers who have returned to parliament "don't want to abandon power."

"The revolution was made by 5,000 people," Shin said, referring to the swelling crowd that gathered outside the presidential and government headquarters Thursday before some of its members stormed the building and took it over.

He said the recently elected lawmakers "could gather at least 25,000," but added that they had no plans to call in crowds to challenge the parliament or interim government. "Nobody should bring people out on the streets for personal ambitions."

The lawmakers from the restored previous parliament's upper house elected Muratbek Mukashev, a commercial bank chairman who had served in the previous parliament and defeated a pro-government candidate in the disputed recent election, as speaker.

They also discussed the possibility of legitimizing interim leader Kurmanbek Bakiyev's position by making him prime minister, instead of just acting prime minister.

Lawmakers on Friday named Bakiyev acting prime minister and acting president, but there were questions of whether the constitution allows an acting prime minister to take over the helm of the country when the president cannot fulfill his duties.

The fall of Akayev's government came swiftly Thursday after weeks of intensifying protests in the south, propelled by widespread anger over the parliamentary elections. A swelling crowd in Bishkek marched to the central square, and hundreds stormed the government headquarters, overcoming riot police who put up little resistance.

Opposition supporters celebrated, waving flags from the windows and taking turns in Akayev's chair, but also ransacked the building before order as imposed.

Bakiyev chose mostly prominent opposition figures for the posts of acting foreign, defense and finance ministers and chief prosecutor. Bakiyev also signed an order appointing other ministers and new governors of the northern Chui and the southern Osh and Jalal-Abad regions, which were the epicenter of anti-Akayev protests.

Bakiyev and other opposition leaders said that Akayev had fled the country but they did not know where he was.

Akayev's wife, Mairam, confirmed that her husband fled Bishkek as protesters began to storm the government building,

Russia

's Rossiyskaya Gazeta reported. The paper, which did not say where she was, quoted her as saying that Akayev left "by agreement with the European community," but she did not elaborate.

Akayev's departure made

Kyrgyzstan

the third former Soviet republic in the past 18 months — after

Georgia

and

Ukraine

— to see protests bring down long-entrenched leaders widely accused of corruption. The 60-year-old Akayev had led

Kyrgyzstan

since 1990, before it gained independence in the Soviet collapse.

The U.S. State Department said Friday that the Bush administration would work jointly with

Russia

to promote a "sense of order" in

Kyrgyzstan

. Spokesman Adam Ereli said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice telephoned Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and they agreed on the importance of the rule of law, nonviolence and the support of the international community."

Kyrgyzstan

has been a conduit for drugs and a potential hotbed of Islamic extremism, particularly in the impoverished south. There was no indication, however, that the opposition would be more amenable to Islamic fundamentalist influence than Akayev's government has been, or that its foreign policy would change significantly.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/26/content_2746485.htm

BISHKEK, March 26 (Xinhuanet) -- Kyrgyzstan's newly formed interim government is taking measures to restore order in the Central Asian country after two days of unrest that left the government collapsed and three people dead.

Kyrgyz opposition leader Kurmanbek Bakiyev in front of the Parliament building in Bishkek March 25. (Xinhua/AFP)

With the help of volunteers, helmeted riot police re-emerged Friday night after two days of absence, firing warning shots to disperse crowds of youths gathering around commercial outlets.

Bishkek was relatively calm Friday night compared with the chaotic Thursday night when numerous shops and stores were torched, looted or vandalized.

Authorities said three people were killed and more than 300 injured in the riot. But unconfirmed reports put the fatalities at six. 　

Opposition leader Kurmanbek Bakiyev was named acting president and prime minister by the parliament Friday after President Askar Akayev fled the country amid protests of opposition supporters who took the government building Thursday.

Bakiyev formed an interim government made up mostly of opposition figures and announced the presidential election would be held in June. The parliament Saturday set June 26 for the presidential elections.

Passers by look into the smashed windows of a shop in the center of Kyrgyz capital Bishkek March 25. (Reuters)

The newly-appointed ministers include Felix Kulov for security, Rosa Otunbayeva for foreign affairs and Myktybek Abdyldayev, a former chief prosecutor who had been fired Wednesday by Akayev, for the interior portfolio.

Kulov said he had remobilized the police force to restore order, and many noncompliant people had already been arrested. But he complained of a shortage of manpower.

The law enforcement agencies were reportedly recruiting volunteers to help maintain security in the capital.

So far, no foreign country has recognized the newly formed leadership, but there are signs that it may have cooperation promises from

Russia

and the

United States

Although describing the regime change in

Kyrgyzstan

as "illegitimate," Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed hope for cooperation with the Kyrgyz opposition to establish positive relations.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Friday called for the restoration of law and order in

Kyrgyzstan

and urged the international community to support the Kyrgyz authorities in their efforts to stop violence.

The White House also said it will work with the new Kyrgyz leadership to stage elections there but the US State Department said there was no issue yet of formally recognizing the leadership.

While the new authorities sought to end a chaotic situation in

Kyrgyzstan

, Akayev's whereabouts remain in mystery. (Xinhua/AFP/file)

While the new authorities sought to end a chaotic situation in

Kyrgyzstan

, Akayev's whereabouts remain in mystery.

Kyrgyz media reported Akayev said in a statement issued on Friday that he was still the legitimate president and condemned the moves by the opposition as an "anti-constitutional coup."

He also denied rumors of his resignation, saying he would return after his "temporary" stay outside the country.

Akayev, who had ruled as president of the mountainous country of 5 million since 1990, did not disclose where he is but said he chose to go out of the country in order to avoid bloodshed.

There are unconfirmed reports that he had flew to neighboring Kazakhstan after opposition demonstrators stormed the main government building in Bishkek on Thursday.

Russia

's Interfax news agency reported Saturday Akayev had arrived in

Russia

, but the Kyrgyz Embassy in

Russia

did not confirm the information. Enditem

http://fr.chinabroadcast.cn/1/2005/03/27/47@61054.htm

Les hommes d'affaires turcs au Kirghizistan ont perdu près de 20 millions de dollars, a rapporté dimanche l'agence de presse turque Anatolia. 25 compagnies turques au Kirghizistan ont été attaquées, selon le reportage, citant l'ambassadeur de Turquie au Kirghizistan, Serpil Alpman.

Les entreprises étrangères ont été attaquées sans distinction, les Turcs ne sont pas sépcialement visés, selon lui. Aucun Turc n'a été blessé dans les émeutes, a affirmé M. Alpman, qui a recommandé la précaution aux Turcs qui sont restés dans le pays. Le gouvernement turc enverra un autre avion dimanche pour évacuer 123 citoyens turcs, selon l'ambassadeur.

http://fr.chinabroadcast.cn/1/2005/03/27/47@61047.htm

L'ordre est restauré graduellement à partir de dimanche matin à Bichkek, la capitale kirghize, après trois jours d'émeute qui ont occasionné environ dix morts.

La police et les volontaires se sont unis pour maintenir l'ordre dans la capitale, où beaucoup de magasins ont été pillés et même brûlés après les émeutes de jeudi.

Le gouvernement par intérim kirghiz s'est engagé à mettre fin à l'anarchie qui a poussé des centaines des milliers d'étrangers à quitter le pays.

M. Felix Kulov, ministre chargé de la sécurité dans le nouveau gouvernement, a indiqué samedi aux journalistes qu'il avait donné l'ordre à la police de tirer en l'air pour chasser les pillards. Mais un responsable dans le bureau de presse au minitère de l'Intérieur a dit dimanche aux journalistes qu'il y avait encore des vols dans de petits magasins et de bureaux et de plus en plus de vols de voitures dans cette ville. Il a confirmé que trois personnes avaient été tuées la veille dans la capitale, notant néanmoins que la situation générale est revenue à la normale.

http://permanent.nouvelobs.com/etranger/20050324.OBS2062.html

Voici, heure par heure, la suite des événements depuis le début de la manifestation à Bichkek, au Kirghizstan, jeudi 24 mars (heure française).

14h30 - Bichkek L'Organisation pour la sécurité et la coopération en Europe offre ses bons offices pour aider à résoudre la crise kirghize.

13h15 - Bichkek Le président de la commission électorale kirghize Soulaïman Imanbiev a présenté sa démission pour raisons de santé.

10h45 - Bichkek La Commission électorale centrale du Kirghizstan se déclare favorable à la confirmation du Parlement issu des récentes élections législatives, à l'origine du soulèvement qui a renversé le régime du président Askar Akaïev.

9h00 - Kashgar La Chine s'apprête à rouvrir sa frontière avec le Kirghizstan alors que la situation se normalise après le renversement du gouvernement dans ce pays d'Asie centrale.

18h50 - Ankara Le ministère turc des Affaires étrangères annonce dans un communiqué la reprise imminente des vols entre la Turquie et le Kirghizstan au vu du retour au calme à Bishkek.

18h30 - Moscou Vladimir Poutine s'entretient au téléphone avec le président kirghiz par intérim, Kourmanbek Bakiev et se déclare prêt à venir en aide au pouvoir intérimaire du Kirghizstan pour stabiliser la situation dans ce pays.

18h20 - Moscou La Russie accorde l'asile au président du Kirghizstan Askar Akaïev renversé jeudi, après que celui-ci en eut fait la demande, indique le Kremlin cité par Interfax.

16h00 - Ankara Le ministère turc des Affaires étrangères annonce la reprise imminente des vols entre la Turquie et le Kirghizstan.

14h00 - Bichkek Kourmanbek Bakiev, président et Premier ministre par intérim kirghiz, annonce qu'il sera candidat à l'élection présidentielle du 26 juin.

11h40 - Bichkek Le parlement kirghiz décide qu'une élection présidentielle se tiendra le 26 juin.

9h50 - Moscou L'agence russe Interfax rapporte que l'ex-président kirghize Askar Akaïev est arrivé vendredi soir en Russie.

9h25 - Bichkek Un dirigeant de l'opposition kirghize fait état de trois morts dans des affrontements entre pillards présumés et forces de l'ordre.

9h00 - Oulan-Bator Plus d'un millier de personnes manifestent devant le siège du gouvernement mongol et demandent plus de démocratie. Aux cris de "le combat des protestataires au Kirghizstan a conduit à la victoire", les manifestants ont tenté en vain de pénétrer dans le palais.

15h55 - Ljubljana Le président en exercice de l'OSCE, Dimitrij Rupel, appelle au dialogue et à une "normalisation" au Kirghizstan.

15h40 - Kiev Le président géorgien Mikhaïl Saakachvili assure à Kiev que la Géorgie et l'Ukraine ne sont pas "exportateurs de la révolution", dans une référence au renversement du pouvoir au Kirghizstan.

De 14h00 à 15h0014h35 - Erevan Vladimir Poutine appelle à "sauvegarder la CEI. Tout le monde y a intérêt, indépendamment de la couleur des forces politiques qui arrivent au pouvoir ou qui le quittent."

14h30 - Bruxelles Le Haut représentant pour la politique étrangère de l'UE, Javier Solana, appelle le peuple kirghize à éviter la "violence et les pillages" et à se comporter "de façon responsable" pour favoriser le retour de "la loi et de l'ordre" dans le pays.

14h15 - Bichkek Le nouveau président par intérim du Kirghizstan, Kourmanbek Bakiev, a commencé à nommer ses nouveaux ministres et responsables de l'administration présidentielle, ainsi que les gouverneurs de trois régions.

14h10 - Bichkek Askar Akaïev dénonce "un coup d'Etat", dément sa démission et assure que son séjour hors du pays est "temporaire", à l'agence kirghize Kabar, citée par la télévision russe NTV.

14h05 - Paris La France, qui suit "avec la plus grande attention" la situation au Kirghizstan, déconseille à ses ressortissants de se rendre dans ce pays dans la période d'instabilité actuelle.

13h15 - Minsk La Biélorussie condamne fermement la prise de pouvoir de l'opposition au Kirghizstan, et l'a dénonce comme anticonstitutionnelle.

13h10 - Vienne L'OSCE annonce que le secrétaire général de l'Organisation pour la sécurité et la coopération en Europe (OSCE) Jan Kubis se rendra au Kirghizstan pour des discussions sur la résolution de la crise dans ce pays d'Asie centrale.

13h10 - Bichkek L'OSCE appelle au dialogue et à une "normalisation" au Kirghizstan après la nuit de pillages qui a suivi le renversement jeudi du régime du président Askar Akaïev.

12h45 - Erevan Vladimir Poutine déclare que la Communauté des Etats indépendants (CEI, ex-URSS moins les pays baltes) doit continuer à exister en dépit des révolutions qui ont dernièrement porté l'opposition au pouvoir dans trois républiques.

12h40 - Moscou L'organisation du Traité de sécurité collective, qui regroupe la Russie et cinq ex-républiques soviétiques, déclare qu'elle avait proposé au président kirghiz Askar Akaïev son assistance militaire, mais celui-ci l'avait jugée superflue.

11h50 - Bichkek Le nouveau chef par intérim des forces de sécurité kirghizes, Felix Koulov, appelle policiers et militaires à se mettre au travail sous peine d'être renvoyés, et la population à les assister pour mettre fin aux pillages qui sévissent à Bichkek depuis la veille.

11h00 – Erevan Vladimir Poutine condamne "la manière illégitime" dont a pris fin la crise au Kirghizstan, devant la presse lors d'une visite en Arménie.

10h55 – Erevan Vladimir Poutine déclare "possible" d'accueillir en Russie le président kirghiz Askar Akaïev.

10h50 – Bichkek Le nouveau président Kourmanbek Bakiev déclare que son pays compte avoir "d'excellentes" relations avec la Russie, voire obtenir son aide pour régler les problèmes apparus avec la chute du régime d'Askar Akaïev.

9h45 - Ankara L'agence de presse semi-officielle Anatolie annonce que la Turquie va envoyer un avion à Bichkek pour rapatrier ses ressortissants du Kirghizstan en raison de la situation précaire qui règne dans ce pays.

9h40 - Pékin La Chine déclare qu'elle espère un retour rapide de la stabilité et de l'ordre public au Kirghizstan.

9h35 – Bichkek Kourmanbek Bakiev déclare qu'une élection présidentielle devra se tenir au Kirghizstan "dans trois mois", soit en juin, "conformément à la Constitution".

9h30 – Astana Le président kazakh Noursoultan Nazarbaïev déclare que la direction kazakh va "tirer les leçons" des événements du Kirghizstan, où "la faiblesse du pouvoir" a permis à l'opposition de renverser les autorités en place.

9h25 – Pékin Le secrétaire général de l'Organisation de coopération de Shanghai, Zhang Deguang, se dit "profondément inquiet" face à la situation au Kirghizstan, selon un communiqué.

9h20 - Bichkek La composition du nouveau gouvernement kirghiz sera approuvée vendredi par le Parlement, annonce le président de la chambre haute, Altaï Boroubaïev.

9h15 - Moscou L'agence d'informations militaires russe Interfax-AVN rapporte que l'organisation du Traité de sécurité collective, qui regroupe la Russie et cinq ex-républiques soviétiques dont le Kirghizstan, va se réunir à Moscou pour examiner la situation à Bichkek.

8h55- Bichkek Kourmambek Bakiev annonce que l'opposition ne compte pas remettre en cause la présence des bases militaires russe et américaine sur le territoire du pays.

7h55 - Bichkek Kourmanbek Bakiev, le leader de l'opposition est désigné président et premier ministre par intérim par le parlement kirghiz.

7h30 – Bichkek Une foule composée de jeunes gens jette des pierres sur le bâtiment du Parlement du Kirghizstan dans la capitale de Bichkek alors que les parlementaires se réunissent pour discuter de la nomination des membres du nouveau gouvernement.

7h25 – Moscou L'agence russe Interfax annonce que le président Askar Akaïev se serait réfugié avec sa famille dans le nord du Kazakhstan.

7h20 - Bichkek Des centaines de personnes entrent dans le parlement, où devaient se réunir les députés issus de la chambre sortante et ceux élus lors des législatives contestées de février-mars, pour soutenir l'opposition qui a pris le pouvoir.

6h40 - Bichkek Un député kirghize, Timir Sariev, annonce sur la télévision nationale que trois personnes ont trouvé la mort à Bichkek dans les événements qui ont mené à la chute du pouvoir kirghize et dans les troubles qui se sont poursuivis dans la nuit.

23h10 - Washington Les Etats-Unis appellent au calme et assurent être en contact avec la Russie pour contribuer à stabiliser le Kirghizstan.

23h00 – Washington L'ambassadeur du Kirghizstan à Washington affirme qu' Askar Akaïev n'a pas démissionné et se trouve en lieu sûr.

20h05 – Bichkek Le parlement kirghiz charge l'ancien chef des services de sécurité et leader de l'opposition Felix Koulov de diriger par intérim l'ensemble des forces de sécurité du pays.

19h20 - Bichkek Le Parlement confie les fonctions du gouvernement au Conseil de coordination d'unité nationale, créé par l'opposition et présidé par Kourmanbek Bakiev.

19h15 - Bichkek Les parlementaires ont choisi le président de la chambre, Ichengbaï Kadyrbekov, comme président par intérim.

19h00 - Bichkek Le parlement kirghiz tient dans la plus grande confusion une séance réunissant à la fois les sénateurs et les députés de la législature précédente et ceux élus en février-mars, qui devaient former une chambre unique.

19h00 - Washington Un porte-parole de l'armée américaine déclare que les militaires affectés sur la base aérienne américaine établie au Kirghizstan surveillent la situation.

18H35 - Bichkek L'ambassadeur des Etats-Unis au Kirghizstan, Stephen Young, apporte dans une déclaration à la chaîne de télévision américaine CNN, son soutien à l'opposition kirghize et annonce que le président Askar Akaïev a quitté le pays.

18H30 - Bichkek Le leader Kourmanbek Bakiev annonce que l'opposition a nommé un nouveau ministre de l'Intérieur.

17h35 - Kiev Kiev se propose comme médiateur pour le règlement de la situation au Kirghizstan.

16h45 - Ljubljana L'OSCE propose à l'opposition kirghize de rétablir une "autorité formelle".

16h40 - Bichkek L'opposition kirghize affirme à la TV qu'Akaïev a quitté le pays.

16h40 - Bichkek Le Premier ministre kirghiz démissionne, annonce l'opposition à la TV.

16h30 - Bichkek Le leader d'opposition kirghize Felix Koulov dément avoir annoncé la démission d'Akaïev.

16h25 - Moscou Le chef de la diplomatie russe Sergueï Lavrov appelle l'OSCE à la responsabilité, l'accusant d'avoir encouragé le mouvement d'opposition.

16h10 - Moscou Askar Akaïev a signé sa démission, affirme le leader de l'opposition Felix Koulov, cité par l'agence Ria-Novosti.

16h05 - Bichkek Un responsable de l'opposition kirghize, Felix Koulov, a été libéré.

15h50 - Moscou La famille du président Akaïev, partie à bord d'un hélicoptère vers le Kazakhstan, est arrivée à Almaty, mais le chef de l'Etat n'est pas du voyage, annonce l'agence russe Interfax sans citer ses sources.

15h50 - Bichkek Le leader de l'opposition Felix Koulov promet de garantir la sécurité du président Askar Akaïev et de sa famille si celui-ci vient à la rencontre des manifestants, lors d'un discours à la télévision nationale.

5h45 - Bichkek L'ancien Parlement qui était en place avant les dernières législatives du Kirghizistan doit se réunir jeudi soir, déclare un ex-parlementaire à la télévision d'Etat.

15h30 - Moscou Askar Akaïev a pris un avion à destination de la Russie, rapporte l'agence de presse Interfax sans citer de sources.

15h25 - Moscou La famille du président Askar Akaïev est partie à bord d'un hélicoptère vers le Kazakhstan, mais le chef de l'Etat ne se trouve pas à bord, annonce l'agence russe Interfax sans citer ses sources.

15h15 - Moscou L'Organisation pour la sécurité et la coopération en Europe (OSCE) indique ne pas savoir où se trouve le président Askar Akaiev, démentant des rumeurs le disant en contact avec des représentants de l'organisation à Bichkek.

15h00 - Moscou Le ministère russe des Affaires étrangères appelle à "ramener la situation sur le terrain de la légalité" au Kirghizstan et à appliquer la Constitution de ce pays.

14h50 - Bichkek Le leader de l'opposition Felix Koulov, ancien vice-président, appelle le président Askar Akaïev à accepter une passation pacifique.

14h45 - Moscou Le président Askar Akaïev part avec sa famille en hélicoptère, vers la frontière du Kazakhstan, d'après l'agence russe Interfax.

14h30 - Bichkek De la fumée s'échappe du bâtiment abritant le siège du gouvernement.

14h25 - Bichkek Un leader de l'opposition kirghiz, Felix Koulov, ancien vice-président, a été libéré de prison par des manifestants, et apparaît à la télévision nationale.

14h05 - Moscou L'agence russe Itar-Tass rapporte que le président kirghiz Askar Akaïev s'entretient avec des représentants de l'OSCE dans sa résidence hors de Bichkek.

13h55 - Paris Le ministère des Affaires étrangères annonce que la France suit "avec préoccupation" l'évolution de la situation et souhaite qu'une issue à la crise soit trouvée "par la voie du dialogue".

13h45 - Moscou L'opposition kirghize affirme avoir pris le contrôle de la télévision d'Etat à Bichkek.

13h35 - Bichkek Les services d'urgence dans la capitale kirghize annoncent qu'une trentaine de personnes ont été blessées dans des heurts entre les partisans de l'opposition et les forces de l'ordre.

13h20 - Moscou : Des sources militaires russes au Kirghizstan affirment à l'agence Interfax que la question d'une éventuelle évacuation du président kirghiz Askar Akaïev via la base aérienne russe de Kant, près de Bichkek, "n'a pas été envisagée".

12h40 - Bichkek : Les manifestants de l'opposition kirghize pénètrent au siège de la télévision d'Etat.

12h30 - Bichkek : L'opposition kirghize appelent l'armée et la police à la rejoindre pour trouver une solution pacifique à la crise que traverse le pays.

11h55 - Bichkek : Le principal leader de l'opposition kirghize, Kourmanbek Bakiev, fait une entrée solennelle dans le bâtiment de la présidence. L'autre principale dirigeante de l'opposition, Roza Otounbaeva, se trouve également dans le bâtiment.

11h35 - Moscou : L'agence russe Interfax annnonce que les ministres kirghizes de la Sécurité et de la Défense sont bloqués par les manifestants à l'intérieur du siège du gouvernement dont ils ont pris le contrôle.

11h05 – Bichkek : Plusieurs manifestants d'opposition pénètrent dans le siège du gouvernement kirghiz, alors que la police qui protégeait le bâtiment a abandonné ses positions.

10h55 – Bichkek : Des dizaines de policiers à cheval chargent la foule pour disperser une manifestation de plusieurs milliers d'opposants kirghizs devant le siège du gouvernement.

10h25 – Bichkek : Les manifestants de l'opposition rassemblés dans le centre de Bichkek bombardent de pierres les policiers anti-émeutes qui protègent le siège du gouvernement.

10h10 – Bichkek : Au moins deux manifestants sont blessés lors des heurts qui ont éclaté près du siège du gouvernement entre des manifestants de l'opposition, d'une part, et des policiers et des partisans du président Askar Akaïev armés de matraques d'autre part.

9h35 – Bichkek : Une foule de quelque 5.000 partisans de l'opposition manifestent devant la "Maison Blanche", siège du gouvernement au centre de Bichkek, pour réclamer la démission du président Askar Akaïev.

9h25 – Bichkek : Le porte-parole de la présidence annonce que le secrétaire d'Etat du Kirghizstan, chargé de "l'idéologie" au sein du pouvoir, Osmonakoun Ibrahimov, a présenté sa démission au président Askar Akaïev qui l'a acceptée.

9h15 – Bichkek : Deux colonnes de manifestants, l'une de plusieurs milliers d'opposants au pouvoir au Kirghizstan, l'autre d'un millier de ses partisans, se dirigent vers le siège de la présidence et du gouvernement au centre de Bichkek.

7h25 – Bichkek : Un millier de manifestants de l'opposition kirghize, se rassemblent et annoncent leur intention de marcher vers le centre ville.

http://www.economist.com/agenda/PrinterFriendly.cfm?Story_ID=3805822

Demonstrations in

Kirgizstan

have forced the former Soviet republic's government from power. The tremors could be felt elsewhere in undemocratic Central Asia

DOES three make a trend?

Kirgizstan

has become the third post-Soviet republic in which disgruntled voters, unwilling to accept a fraudulent election, have taken matters into their own hands. On Thursday March 24th, Askar Akaev, president of the Central Asian republic for 15 years, was forced to flee the capital, Bishkek, after protesters took the government headquarters. A new government has been proclaimed, and now

Kirgizstan

’s “tulip revolution” joins

Georgia

’s “rose revolution” and

Ukraine

’s orange one. But

Kirgizstan

’s uprising has been more chaotic and violent than those other two, and unlike them it has no single leader. The future for the remote republic is clouded.

On Thursday, protests which had begun in the south of the country a few days earlier reached Bishkek, in the north. Demonstrators stormed the “White House”, the government headquarters, making their way past riot police who either melted away or joined the protesters. Mr Akaev was soon nowhere to be seen, and protestors and looters ransacked the building.

The turmoil had begun soon after the first round of elections on February 27th, which foreign monitors rated as deeply flawed. During the election campaign, state broadcasters openly supported the government, independent media were harassed and opposition candidates were disqualified from standing for niggling reasons. The second round, earlier this month, was little better. And rather than take it on the chin, as had voters in flawed elections in

Kazakhstan

and

Tajikistan

recently, peaceful protestors soon became full-fledged revolutionaries.

After several days of chaos and looting following Mr Akaev's ouster, opposition leaders are now appealing for calm. But while the looting has died down, confusion still prevails in the halls of government. The supreme court annulled the flawed elections last week. But two rival opposition leaders, Kurmanbek Bakiev and Felix Kulov, soon disagreed on what to do about parliament. Mr Bakiev, a former prime minister, said the old parliament must stay in office. Mr Kulov, a former vice-president who was freed from jail by protestors last week, said that its term had expired and the new parliament must take over. Mr Kulov prevailed, but in an apparent deal between the two men, the new parliament has confirmed the old one's decision to make Mr Bakiev prime minister. (Mr Kulov, who is also a former police chief of Bishkek, will be in charge of security.) The old parliament also named Mr Bakiev interim president, but Mr Akaev has not formally resigned, sowing more confusion still.

The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which monitored and criticised the elections, is hoping to help sort out the mess. Shortly after Mr Akaev's resignation Mr Bakiev promised new elections in June. But the OSCE's ambassador to

Kirgizstan

frets that this is far too soon. Calm must first established. But if this is achieved by an accommodation between the opposition and some of the tainted figures in the new parliament,

Kirgizstan

could revert to its former stasis of mild corruption and only partial democracy.

Kirgizstan

used to be seen as an island of democracy in Central Asia . Mr Akaev, a respected physicist, won a tough fight for the presidency in 1990 against a communist boss, and won popular election in 1991 after the republic gained independence. He reformed the economy and introduced multi-party democracy. But over the 1990s he became more authoritarian. Elections held in 1995 and 2000 were criticised by observers as less than free and fair. Following unrest in 2002, when an opposition member of parliament was arrested on petty charges, Mr Akaev promised reforms. But the result was a dodgy referendum that strengthened the presidency and replaced the party-list system with single-member districts for parliamentary polls. This weakened the parties and handed more clout to powerful individuals. Mr Akaev’s son and daughter both won seats in this year’s elections.

Though the country is small and remote, and lacks the energy reserves of some of the other Central Asian republics, events there are being watched with interest. Both

America

and

Russia

have military bases near Bishkek.

America

moved heavily into Central Asia for the war in

Afghanistan

, and the two big powers have eyed each other warily in the region ever since. Many have criticised

America

for tolerating brutal regimes that help it in the war on terror, notably that of

Kirgizstan

’s neighbour,

Uzbekistan

. But

America

’s ambassador in Bishkek, Stephen Young, has been admirably frank with both the press and Mr Akaev’s government about concerns over deteriorating democracy in

Kirgizstan

Russia

had good relations with Mr Akaev, and Vladimir Putin, its president, expressed dismay that yet another former Soviet republic has had its government changed “illegally”. But the new leaders are mostly former ministers, people Mr Putin says he knows and can work with. Both

America

and

Russia

plan to keep their bases in

Kirgizstan

. Unlike in the revolutions in

Georgia

and

Ukraine

, foreign policy was not a big point of difference between government and opposition.

Kirgizstan

’s neighbours are also watching closely. It has a tricky relationship with

Uzbekistan

, whose dictator, Islam Karimov, has cracked down heavily on Islamic militants.

Uzbekistan

even mined the border with

Kirgizstan

to prevent militants from escaping, to Mr Akaev’s deep annoyance. A new

Kirgiz

government might show more consideration for ethnic Uzbeks in the south, which could perhaps improve relations with its bigger neighbour.

Events in

Kirgizstan

are unlikely to have much effect in

Turkmenistan

, a North Korea-style dictatorship in the region. But

Kirgizstan

’s other neighbours,

Kazakhstan

and

Tajikistan

, may feel tremors. In

Kazakhstan

to the north, the president, Nursultan Nazarbaev, has doled out money and favours (from the country’s mineral wealth) to keep himself in power. But there is a visible and lively, if so far unsuccessful, opposition.

Tajikistan

, which is poorer and endured a civil war in the 1990s, could be shakier. Recent elections, criticised by international observers, strengthened the party of the president, Imomali Rakhmonov. Might he be the next to succumb to Central Asia 's new-found people power?

http://www.mosnews.com/news/2005/03/28/kyrgresults.shtml

A Kyrgyz volunteer drives away people from a damaged and looted shopping mall in Bishkek / Photo: AP

Created: 28.03.2005 18:31 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 18:31 MSK, 21 hours 28 minutes ago

The new government of

Kyrgyzstan

will compensate small businesses for the damage they suffered during the recent riots, Prime Minister Kurmanbek Bakiyev pledged Monday.

“I address everyone who has suffered. Prepare your letters to the government and we will make checks,” Kurmanbek Bakiyev said as he spoke during the parliament session.

The Kyrgyz prime minister specified that only small businesses would be entitled to compensation, while large companies and retail operators will have to bear all the costs themselves, RIA-Novosti news agency reported.

Kyrgyz authorities said on Monday that 244 people sought medical assistance in the wake of disorder that continued in Bishkek from March 24 through March 28. 133 were hospitalized, RIA reported citing the KABAR news agency. Three people were killed in the clashes.

The International Business Council has assessed the property damage inflicted during the riots at nearly $100 million.

http://www.times.spb.ru/archive/times/1056/top/t_15262.htm

BISHKEK -

Kyrgyzstan

plunged deeper into confusion Monday when a parliament, whose disputed election led to a coup ousting President Askar Akayev, assumed authority and the new leaders jostled for power.

With the impoverished Central Asian state looking increasingly rudderless, differences emerged between acting president Kurmanbek Bakiyev, named within hours of the March 24 coup that forced Akayev to flee, and Felix Kulov, a popular opposition leader in charge of security.

"Today we have two presidents ... in some areas three or four governors and up to six regional leaders in the provinces," declared the speaker of the new parliament.

"We need to stop the disintegration of authority which is threatening the integrity of state," Omurbek Tekebayev said, adding that Akayev still remained the legal head of state.

"The rule of the Kalashnikov [rifle]" will take over throughout the country if the crisis is not solved, he said.

The new legislature, discredited though it is by the disputed February-March election that triggered the coup, assumed authority when the old assembly bowed out Monday.

"The old parliament has ... passed all responsibility to the new one. They do not want friction," deputy Nikolai Bailo said.

The bizarre development only underscored the uncertainty among the country's new authorities.

Tekebayev told deputies that parliament's first task would be to confirm Bakiyev as prime minister.

He said nothing about Bakiyev's appointment by the old parliament as acting president, but described its decision to name June 26 for new presidential elections as illegal.

The constitutional crisis stoked tension in the mainly Muslim former Soviet state of 5 million where mass looting broke out after the coup, though there was calm over Sunday night.

The new leaders have warned of civil war erupting and Bakiyev's supporters say a plot to kill him has been uncovered.

It was the opposition's allegations that the parliamentary poll was rigged that led to anti-Akayev unrest in the south of the country and then in the capital, climaxing in crowds storming government headquarters in Bishkek.

The two rival legislatures have since been meeting on different floors of the same parliament building.

Bakiyev had said the old legislature should stay on at least until the disputes over the election had been resolved.

But Kulov, a popular opposition figure released from jail by protesters immediately after government buildings were seized, set himself at odds with Bakiyev by announcing Sunday he would obey orders only from the newly-elected assembly.

Bakiyev himself appeared to be softening his position regarding the discredited election. "All the unrest was directly linked to the parliamentary elections. At the same time I am very far from saying that there was a total mess in all 75 constituencies."

He played down differences with Kulov, acknowledging there were points of friction, but adding: "I would not call it a dispute." He said they would work out their differences soon.

The unrest over disputed elections followed a pattern established by two other ex-Soviet states,

Ukraine

and

Georgia

, which have also seen a change of guard following protests.

Kyrgyzstan

, a mountainous country bordering

China

, lies in a region, rich in oil and gas deposits and is viewed with keen interest by Moscow and Washington . Both have military bases in the country.

The dramatic events in

Kyrgyzstan

last week did not go unnoticed in other former Soviet republics that are ruled by long-serving authoritarian figures.

The Uzbek opposition voiced hope for similar events soon in this tightly controlled country.

At a meeting Friday, the Free Peasants and Erk opposition parties and local rights groups welcomed Akayev's fall from power.

"We are sure the process of democratic reforms that started in

Kyrgyzstan

will highly influence all parts of Central Asia ," they said in a joint statement.

Uzbek President Islam Karimov's government has long drawn international criticism for a lack of democratic reforms, poor human rights record and stagnating economy.

n In Baku, a key opposition leader on Friday warned the Azeri authorities against rigging the November parliamentary elections. Isa Gambar, head of the Musavat party, which this month formed an alliance with two other major opposition forces, said that another revolution could happen in Azerbaijan if President Ilham Aliyev tried to fix the results of the elections.

n In Astana, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev on Friday blamed the Kyrgyz leader's weakness for the collapse of his government at the hands of opposition protesters, Interfax reported.

Nazarbayev, who faces re-election next year, said that severe social and economic problems had also contributed to Thursday's popular uprising.

n In Kiev, the presidents of

Ukraine

and

Georgia

, who came to power after mass protests like those that drove out Akayev, expressed hopes on Friday for a peaceful resolution of the tensions in

Kyrgyzstan

n In Minsk, police on Friday drove demonstrators calling for President Alexander Lukashenko's resignation away from his office as the government criticized

Kyrgyzstan

's opposition for its seizure of power.

About 1,000 opposition demonstrators tried to gather at a central square near the presidential palace in Minsk but were pushed away by police. Officers in riot gear then chased demonstrators along the streets of the capital, beating some with truncheons. Thirty-four people were detained for taking part in an unsanctioned rally.

http://globalpolitician.com/articles.asp?ID=525

To the casual observer recent events in

Kyrgyzstan

resemble those of

Georgia

and the

Ukraine

. But as the euphoric opening moves of revolution pass, a political and geographical split widens between rival Kyrgyz clans. If the factionalization of Kyrgystan's divided polity continues it will destabilize the area and further complicate the tense relations of the region's contending powers.

There are parallels among the recent revolutions sweeping across the former Soviet Union . Each began in the capital, each was inspired, if not backed by

U.S.

policy, money and rhetoric and in each the aims of the revolutionaries were agreed upon in advance. However, the unrest in

Kyrgyzstan

was spontaneous in nature and began in the provinces, unlike the events that erupted in capitals of the Republic of Georgia and the

Ukraine

In the late nineties when the differences between

Kyrgyzstan

's regions were less pronounced than they are today a survey was conducted to explore issues effecting

Kyrgyzstan

's future. Even then a key conclusion of the survey identified a striking division in this mountainous country where the ruling Kyrgyz clans from the north largely ignore the needs and aspirations of the Uzbeks in the south. In the poll, two thirds of the Kyrgyz people felt that the North-South division of the country would ultimately lead to conflict.

Most ethnic Kyrgyz who live in the north are drawn from a cultural milieu of clan-based nomadic horse shepherds loosely affiliated with Islam, whereas Southern Kyrgyzstan is full of Islamized Uzbeks dependent upon the rapidly deteriorating cotton monoculture of the Ferghana Valley . Here it is not uncommon to see women donning the veil, Wahhabist relief organizations and the occasional Saudi built Mosque. Indeed, the IMU (Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan) derived most of its support from the Ferghana.

While the IMU fights for its life in the Northwest Provinces of

Pakistan

[1], Hizb-ut-Tahrir, a non-violent radical Islamist group, plots and organizes in both

Uzbekistan

and

Kyrgyzstan

Former President Akayev of

Kyrgyzstan

and Uzbek president Islam Karimov outlawed Hizb-ut-Tahrir amidst worries that a violent faction of Hizb-ut-Tahrir has formed.[2] For the new Kyrgyz leaders, however, Hizb-ut-Tahrir is a future problem. Their first priority is contending with the aftermath of revolution.

After the votes for the Parliamentary elections were tallied on February 27 the ruling party appeared victorious.

The celebrations were cut short by a February 28 OSCE report that indicated "widespread vote-buying, de-registration [of legitimate] candidates and interference with independent media."[3]

Several days later a small and disorganized crowd tried but failed to take over a regional administration building in the Ferghana city of Jalalabad .

Then on March 13 the ruling party declared the results of the run-off election: Akayev's party claimed an absolute majority in the parliament.

Five days later the crying morphed into rage when an opposition mob in Osh seized a regional administration building. But on the 19th of March OMON troops (Kyrgyz riot police, who some claimed were Kazakh citizens) retook it.

Undaunted, the opposition countered OMON the following day, overwhelming the regional administration building, the Internal Affairs Office and the International Airport at Jalalabad.

Scoring more victories in Jalalabad on the 21st of March, the opposition occupied the regional and city administration buildings.

Emboldened by their victories they also occupied the national security service office (the Kyrgyz KBG) in Osh .

The region's new leader, Kushbak Tezekbayev, exerted his newfound power, telling a Russian news agency, "The situation is stable in the region and the law enforcement system is beginning to work. The traffic police are on duty and police departments will soon resume their work as well." [4]

On March 22, as reported by Interfax, "a convoy of buses carrying opposition activists departed from Osh to Bishkek" with the goal of organizing protests in the capitol.

That same day in Bishkek the Central Election Commission certified the results of the election and the new parliament sat for the first time.

The morning of the 23rd was preceded by a restless, rumor-filled and tense night. Crowds gathered along the tree-lined boulevards of Bishkek. Competing protests soon erupted. Some were natives of Bishkek, and others were from the south.

In the next few days, as opposition crowds grew larger and more radical, the presidential offices would be seized, Akayev's fifteen-year tenure as president of

Kyrgyzstan

would end and widespread looting would befall the city of Bishkek .

The dynamism of events in Bishkek captured the world's attention as a tiny and poor republic, high up in the mountains of Central Asia burst onto the world's front pages.

Policymakers, as a rule, prefer stability. And so the unsettled nature of events in

Kyrgyzstan

leaves many watchers with more questions than answers.

One key question will be how the leaders in Bishkek reconcile power sharing with the south now that an ethnic Uzbek is governor of the province. If this is handled poorly, will separatist undercurrents emerge outright?

Indeed, how would the government of Islam Karimov respond to more autonomous policies in a largely lawless region that directly borders

Uzbekistan

's most troublesome province? After all, the border has already been mined.

Moreover,

Kyrgyzstan

's revolution is viewed by the Russian foreign policy elite as another American attempt at denying them what is rightfully theirs: an unimpeded sphere of influence. At what point must Putin simply say, 'nyet.'

There is also the nagging question of competing Russian and American air bases in Bishkek to contend with. How will

Kyrgyzstan

's new leaders cope with the competing influences of American neo-imperialism and

Russia

's attempt to re-establish control in its 'near-abroad?' Will they be as skillful in balancing the rival powers as Akayev was?

It is important to point out that Bush's proclaimed 'March of Freedom' is not the sole benchmark of American interests in the region. The Bush Administration considers Al Qaeda a threat, even if the president rarely mentions the name of its founder. Al Qaeda is still a threat looking for a home. Might the Ferghana end up being a 21st century Bekaa Valley ?

What of the colossus next door,

China

? Already

China

has one unstable neighbor in

North Korea

. They don't need or want another. How will they behave if

Kyrgyzstan

disintegrates?

Furthermore,

China

doesn't appreciate

U.S.

meddling in what they consider to be their backyard.

China

's problem with American influence in the region stems from the perceived hypocrisy of Bush's "War On Terror." From the Chinese perspective it's a war that should include the separatist threat in

China

's Xinjiang province. However, in Washington , mum's the word.

In fact, Stratfor, a corporate intelligence firm widely considered to be a barometer of neo-conservative strategy, writes "[the] Chinese don't believe the

United States

is obsessed with Al Qaeda any longer. They believe the Americans are obsessed with

China

, and they see events in

Kyrgyzstan

as a security threat."

Finally, there is the issue of water. Pedestrian it is, but essential nonetheless. Although global climate change is hastening the evaporation of the glaciers

Kyrgyzstan

still has lots of water.

Uzbekistan

and

China

have little. In fact,

Uzbekistan

has so mismanaged its water resources that the Aral Sea has lost 50 percent of its volume. How will

Kyrgyzstan

manage these rapidly evaporating resources with two dehydrated neighbors?

The problem of

Kyrgyzstan

cannot be reduced into prettified sound bites. It's not enough to equate developments in

Kyrgyzstan

as a fight between 'free peoples' and 'despots.' It is a divided nation sandwiched between several larger, thirstier and hungrier powers, all of who are competing for its attention. While other nations in similar historical circumstances have turned such a geopolitical situation to their advantage, cohesion and shared goals were the rule internally.

One resource

Kyrgyzstan

needs but doesn't have is stability. It also needs time. It doesn't have much of that either.