Violent Protests Spread in Kyrgyzstan

Clashes in Kyrgyzstan between police and opposition protesters have spread to several cities in the north. Several thousand people were marching from the opposition headquarters to the main government offices in the capital Bishkek after clashes with police, reports BBC.

The unrest comes a day after thousands of people stormed government offices in the north-west city of Talas. The opposition is calling for President Kurmanbek Bakiyev to resign over rising fuel prices and corruption. The protesters in Bishkek appeared to be leaderless after a number of opposition heads were arrested overnight.

Earlier, police had used tear gas and stun grenades to break up crowds outside an opposition headquarters but the protesters rallied to march to the presidential offices in the city centre.

The unrest began on Tuesday in the north-western city of Talas, where protesters briefly took the local governor hostage while another group surrounded the local police headquarters. Angry crowds attacked police special forces with rocks and petrol bombs. They reportedly set fire to portraits of President Bakiyev. Several opposition leaders were arrested overnight and journalists attacked, adding to the tensions in the country.

According to BBC News, in recent weeks, the authorities have clamped down on independent media, and several internet news sources are still blocked in the country.

Five years ago, mass protests in Kyrgyzstan brought Bakiyev to power. He promised to fight corruption and promote democracy, but his critics say the country has become increasingly authoritarian under his rule.