Kyrgyzstan leader forced to flee as protesters storm headquarters

PRESIDENT Askar Akayev fled Kyrgyzstan yesterday after protesters stormed his headquarters, seized control of state television and rampaged through government offices, throwing computers and air conditioners out of windows.

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

Parliament later elected former opposition politician Ishenbai Kadyrbekov as interim president.

Jailed former Vice-President Felix Kulov was freed by his supporters and the opposition took control of the state television TV network.

A leading opponent of the Akayev regime, Kulov, praised the “revolution made by the people”. He said Akayev had signed a letter of resignation, the ITAR-Tass news agency reported.

Sitting in Mr Akayev’s chair, opposition leader, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, said on state television, “Akayev is no longer on the territory of Kyrgyzstan.”

The prime minister had resigned but that those in charge of the Security, Interior and Defence ministries were working with the opposition, he added.

But last night, mobs of alcohol-fuelled looters rampaged through the centre of the city smashing shop windows and overturning cars and clashing with Interior Ministry commandos and regular riot police.

Mr Kulov, who was jailed for 10-years on trumped up corruption charges, said in a confident television address that the responsibility for the present situation lay with corrupt government and appealed for calm.

At least 30 people were reported injured during afternoon clashes with riot police on Chui Prospect, the city’s main avenue.

Vincent Lusser, a spokesman for the International Red Cross, said its staff had seen “a few dozen wounded,” although most appeared to have injuries sustained in falls or fist fights.

At 1pm, at least 1,500 opposition supporters marched in front of the presidential compound known as the White House, a soviet architectural monstrosity located 200 metres from the road.

An hour later, they were joined by an additional 2,000 people. A young man on horseback rode through the crowd carrying a symbolic yellow scarf for non-violence and demonstrators carried pink and red tulips, the national flower of Kyrgyzstan.

Demonstrators wore pink and yellow arm bands, colours now associated with the anti-Akayev protest, as orange was the campaign colour in Ukraine and the red rose was the emblem for Georgia.

Banners said “Akayev Out,” “Akayev go away” and “Free Kulov.” As more people gathered outside the compound, demonstrators hurled stick paving stones at riot police and pro-Akayev supporters identifiable by their white caps and blue armbands.

On their second attempt, protestors scaled the perimeter fence and gained entry, waving flags from windows and throwing official papers and portraits of Mr Akayev out.

The storming of the White House was initially well organised. Looters, who threw computers and arms chairs from the second storey, were berated by the crowd.

According to eyewitness reports, demonstrators who gained access to Akayev’s office thrashed it.

Ulan Shambetov, an opposition activist, said: “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 the Akayev family.”

Opposition leaders speaking outside the compound appealed for calm and a group of presidential guards were allowed to walk safely back to their neighbouring barracks in a gesture of goodwill.

However, a number of ministers still inside the compound were allegedly beaten before being sent home.

As night fell, youths stoned business premises across the city, stealing electronic and other goods, overturning cars and smashing taxis.

Landmark department stores, Silk Way and Beta Stores, were destroyed by looters and traders’ supporters formed a protective ring around Bishkek’s oldest store, Zum, in an effort to prevent the mob from gaining access.

The protests, prompted by disputed elections on February 27 and March 13, spread quickly from the south of the country bordering Uzbekistan northwards to Bishkek in recent days. On Sunday, the provinces of Osh and Jalal-Abad were firmly in opposition control, with local police and militia replaced by “people’s units”.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry last night condemned the protests, saying it was «extremely concerned by developments.