KYRGYZSTAN: Kyrgyz opposition leader Kurmanbek Bakiyev, thrust to the fore after protesters seized government headquarters, is a former prime minister who ironically took a hard line with demonstrations when in office.
The 56-year-old, who has also served as governor of the rich Chui region, said yesterday the opposition would hold elections to replace President Askar Akayev. "We will establish order. We will not allow looting. We will hold our own elections to start our rule," he declared to demonstrators.
An economist and experienced technocrat, Mr Bakiyev is popular both in his native south and among the ethnic Russian workforce - who form the backbone of industry - and intellectuals in the north.
Mr Akayev appointed the economist prime minister in December 2000 and he proved himself a man prepared to stick to tough fiscal rules for dealing with the large debt burden of his impoverished former Soviet homeland. Under his premiership, the US air force was allowed to establish a base near the capital Bishkek and former opposition leader Felix Kulov was imprisoned for abuse of power and theft. Mr Kulov was sprung from jail by protesters yesterday.
His government cracked down on demonstrators, with his interior minister saying that riots which broke out in Mr Bakiyev's home region in the south in March 2002 were an attempt to overthrow the government.
Police fired into the crowd of 1,500 people protesting the arrest of their local parliament deputy in the town of Jalal Abad, and five people died.
An investigation found top officials responsible for the tragedy, and Mr Bakiyev was forced to resign. Nikolai Tanayev, his deputy, took over. Mr Bakiyev moved over to the opposition after his resignation, becoming leader of the People's Movement of Kyrgyzstan group and leading protests against this year's poll, in which he lost his seat in the March run-off.
The opposition said the poll was rigged and enraged protesters stormed government buildings to take control of the country's major cities. - (Reuters)