The Hindu : International : Mass protests in Belarus, Mongolia

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Sunday, Mar 27, 2005

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International

Mass protests in Belarus, Mongolia

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW, MARCH 26. Six more persons died in the Kyrgyzstan capital Bishkek on Friday night as the new authorities tried to stop the mayhem and looting in the capital.

Agency reports said the developments in Kyrgyzstan inspired similar protests in Belarus and Mongolia on Friday. The authorities in Belarus on Saturday opened a criminal inquiry the day after an Opposition rally massed outside the office of the President, Alexander Lukashenko, to demand his ouster in an attempt to emulate the uprising in Kyrgyzstan.

In Mongolia, more than 1,000 people marched in front of the seat of Government in the capital Ulan Bator, demanding more democracy in a protest inspired by the Kyrgyzstan revolt, witnesses said on Saturday.

However, the protest, organised by the Just Society-Civic Movement, was forced back by a strong police force amid cries of ``the struggle by protesters in Kyrgyzstan led to the victory.''

Shoot orders in Bishkek

In the Kyrgyzstan capital Bishkek, additional police and army troops were deployed with orders to shoot looters on sight. Gunshots were heard during the night and officials said at least three persons were killed and 173 others were hospitalised as large gangs of looters still ran wild. Other estimates put Friday's casualty toll at six; 15 persons were reported killed on Thursday when Opposition supporters seized the presidential compound and forced the President, Askar Akayev, to flee the country.

"The situation is complicated, but we are slowly starting to bring things back to normal," the Acting President and Acting Prime Minister, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, told the Interfax news agency. He accused supporters of the deposed President of organising "counter-revolutionary" pogroms in Bishkek.

Polls on June 26

The upper House of Parliament today voted to hold presidential elections in Kyrgyzstan on June 26. However, the Parliament itself became a focal point of controversy, as the old and newly elected Houses vied for authority.

The Supreme Court on Thursday invalidated the recent parliamentary elections, but the Central Election Commission today recognised the new legislature as legitimate. In a compromise decision, it was agreed that the old legislature would sit till April 14, whereafter the new Parliament will take over.

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