Kyrgyzstan Supreme Court occupied

SUPPORTERS of losing candidates in last month’s parliamentary elections in the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan have occupied the country’s Supreme Court, demanding the resignation of all its judges.

About 200 people are occupying the court buildings in the capital Bishkek, with about 30 staying in the building around the clock, said Omurjan Amanov, one of the protesters.

Supreme Court chairman Kurmanbek Osmonov offered his resignation on Monday, and it is expected to be accepted by Parliament today.

Osmonov has been under pressure to step down over controversial court decisions that have contributed to public anger over a rigged parliamentary vote in February and March, which sparked an uprising against President Askar Akayev on March 24.