Kyrgyz Bill On Amending National Flag Advances Despite Protests

Kyrgyz lawmakers on December 19 approved in the second reading a bill amending the national flag. The bill, approved in its first reading last month, says the wavy yellow rays of a sun on a red field of the current flag give the impression of a sunflower. But the Kyrgyz word for sunflower, "kunkarama," has a second meaning: "dependent." The bill would allow the "straightening" of the sunrays to make the image look more like a sun, the lawmakers said. Several rallies protesting the change have been held in the Central Asian country since it was proposed in October. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service, click here.