Washington says closely monitors situation in Kyrgyzstan
08/04/201005:13
MOSCOW, April 8 (RIA Novosti) - Washington is closely monitoring the situation in the Central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan, where bloody protests left at least 47 people killed and some 400 injured, the U.S. Department of State said.
The protests against the ruling government, initiated by the country's opposition, began in the northwestern Kyrgyz town of Talas on Tuesday spreading to other regions of the country, including the capital Bishkek, on Wednesday. Opposition has declared it assumed full power in Kyrgyzstan.
"Clearly we are monitoring very closely the situation in Bishkek regarding these protests... We urge all parties to show respect for the rule of law and resolve differences in a peaceful, orderly, and legal manner," Assistant Secretary Philip Crowley told a daily press briefing.
He said the U.S. airbase in Kyrgyzstan as well as the embassy continues to function normally under the current circumstances.
"As I understand it, right now the transit center at the Manas airport is functioning normally. We've put out a Warden Message regarding our own Embassy personnel and all Embassy personnel remain accounted for... Right now, as far as I know, the Embassy is functioning normally," Crowley said.
The United States uses an airbase in Manas outside Kyrgyzstan's capital, Bishkek, to support its operations in nearby Afghanistan.
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