Kyrgyzstan protests are a criminal coup, claims leadership

Protests sweeping Kyrgyzstan are part of a “coup” designed by criminals, President Askar Akayev’s spokesman said today .

“The third force, criminal elements connected to the drug mafia, are in complete control of the situation in Osh and Jalal-Abad, and are struggling to gain power,” said presidential spokesman Abdil Segizbayev, referring to two southern towns that have seen riots in the past few days.