Kyrgyz Protesters Try To Seize Government Building

Naryn, Kyrgyzstan; 9 March 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Protesters in Kyrgyzstan's eastern Naryn Oblast tried unsuccessfully today to occupy the regional administrative building.
Demonstrations against the results of recent parliamentary elections had been under way in the province for several days.

Protesters blocked a key highway connecting Kyrgyzstan and China and were holding rallies outside the regional administrative building. It was unclear what prompted the protesters to attempt to occupy the building.

Protesters in the southern Jalal-Abad and Osh oblasts have been occupying provincial and regional administrative buildings for several days.

Meanwhile, a group of some 300 protesters from the town of Kara-Kulja reached the southern city of Osh today. Troops from the Interior Ministry were reportedly blocking the group from entering the city.

(RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service)

For news, background, and analysis on Kyrgyzstan's 27 February parliamentary elections and the protests following them, see RFE/RL's webpage "Kyrgyzstan Votes 2005".