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Two Killed As Fresh Unrest Breaks Out In Southern Kyrgyzstan

Last updated (GMT/UTC): 19.05.2010 15:20
By RFE/RL

The authorities have declared a state of emergency in the southern Kyrgyz city of Jalal-Abad, where at least two people were killed in renewed violence.

The Health Ministry said dozens were injured as thousands of mainly ethnic Kyrgyz demonstrators tried to storm a university that serves as a focal point for the local Uzbek minority.

It's the latest flareup of violence in the south of the country, where interim authorities have been trying to restore order in the wake of a bloody antigovernment uprising last month.

The incident has prompted fears of possible ethnic tensions in the Kyrgyz city, which has a sizeable community of ethnic Uzbeks.

The state of emergency begins on May 19 and will run through June 1 and sets a curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The interim government also announced today that interim government head Roza Otunbaeva had been named interim president of the country.

Officials in Bishkek said that Otunbaeva, who has headed the government since former President Kurmanbek Bakiev was forced from power last month, would remain head of state until December 2011.

Today she condemned what she termed attempts to "sow the seeds of discord among our people, especially between Uzbeks and Kyrgyz."

"I want to assure you that we are monitoring the situation and we have engaged all the necessary forces," Otunbaeva said.

The interim government has accused supporters of the ousted government of former President Kurmanbek Bakiev of trying to stir up ethnic violence in the country.

But at least one demonstrator, Bolot Jooshbaev, told RFE/RL that the protesters were not marching in support of Bakiev, but against a local Uzbek minority leader, Kadyrzhan Batyrov.

"No one here came to support Bakiev. We are just demanding that Kadyrzhan Batyrov be brought here, or acting Governor Bektur Asanov, or some chief of security forces," he said. "But so far, nobody has come out to talk to us."

An RFE/RL correspondent at the scene, Rysbai Abdraimov, said the latest protest started peacefully at the local horse-racing track.

Demonstrators chanted slogans against Batyrov, accusing him of provoking tensions in the area. They also accused Batyrov supporters of setting fire to Bakiev's family home in the nearby village of Teyyit in recent days.

Then protesters marched toward the Friendship of Peoples University, which is funded by Batyrov.

Batyrov, a wealthy businessman and former lawmaker, enjoys support among Jalal-Abad's Uzbek community. He has officially backed the interim government in the south, where Bakiev has his strongest support.

Special police forces stationed around the university building shot into the air trying to disperse the crowd, which was throwing stones toward the building, smashing windows. Abdraimov says some protesters were also throwing stones toward police officers.

Special troops are also stationed around the provincial government office, which was the scene of violent protests last week, when Bakiev supporters took over the government building.

Our correspondent said it was not clear who the organizers of the latest protests were.

Ergash Khuja, an ethnic Uzbek in Jalal-Abad, told RFE/RL that the Uzbek community was "anxious" about the latest events. However, he said, "It seems government forces are capable of preventing" any possible attacks.

"Uzbeks live in this city in large numbers," Khuja said. "Now they are gathering in small groups in their neighborhoods, watchful of anyone who would try to enter their neighborhoods."

As evening approached, acting Jalal-Abad Governor Asanov said the situation in the city was calm and that most of the protesters had gone home.

Officials in Bishkek say they see a link between today's events in Jalal-Abad and last week's violent protests in the south. On May 12-14, Bakiev supporters staged demonstrations in Batken, Jalal-Abad, and Osh, briefly occupying provincial government buildings in all three places.

Bakiev was toppled in the aftermath of antigovernment protests that killed at least 85 people in the capital, Bishkek, in April.

written by Farangis Najibullah in Prague with contributions from RFE/RL Kyrgyz Service correspondent Rysbai Abdraimov in Jalal-Abad

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/Kyrgyz_Rally_Urge_Arrest_Of_Local_Uzbek_Leader/2046500.html

Copyright (c) 2010. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.