Protestors storm Kyrgyzstan government HQ

More than 2,000 unarmed supporters of a presidential candidate who was denied registration in next month’s Kyrgyzstan election stormed the Kyrgyz government headquarters today.

The crowd had gathered outside the building, shouting slogans in support of the candidate, Urmat Baryaktadasov.

His registration was denied because Kyrgyz officials said they had proof he was a citizen of neighbouring Kazakhstan.

The violence underscored the high tensions in Kyrgyzstan less than a month before the July 10 vote. The election was called after a March uprising ousted longtime Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev.

The crowd swept aside about 50 policemen and 20 National Guardsman who had been patrolling the building. Police had earlier sealed off the square outside the building.

Violence broke out on Monday in the southern city of Osh, when security guards opened fire on market traders demanding fair market prices. Seven people were injured in the clash, two seriously.

Last week, an MP who owned the biggest car market in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz capital, was shot and killed. Authorities announced a reward for information to help to solve the murder.

A crowd of about 2,000 gathered outside the building, shouting slogans in support of the Baryaktadasov. Several hundred had managed to get into the building.

Up to 100 Interior Ministry troops carrying riot shields and truncheons sealed off entrances to the building after the storming. They then started advancing on the crowd outside the building, beating their shields and causing protesters to break and run.

Farida Mambetakunova, 35, from Baryaktadasov’s home region of Issyk-Kul in north eastern Kyrgyzstan, on the border with Kazakhstan, stood on a flight of steps inside the government headquarters.

“Our goal is to elect him as our president. We will wait here until he is given a mandate to run in the race. We won’t leave until then,” she said.

“He gave us jobs and money,” she added. “Bakiyev hasn’t done anything since coming to power.”

She was referring to Acting President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, the front runner in the forthcoming election .

Bakiyev became prime minister and acting president after the March 24 uprising. He struck a deal with former security chief Felix Kulov – under which Bakiyev will choose Kulov as prime minister if elected – to ease fears of possible regional tensions following the elections. Bakiyev enjoys strong support in southern Kyrgyzstan, while Kulov has backing in the north.

Protesters had occupied the country’s Supreme Court for more than a month this spring, complaining that the judges had taken unfair decisions against candidates during February parliamentary elections.

Supporters of rival MPs then evicted them from the building on June 1 amid violent clashes.