Coup in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan population 5,431,747 is Muslim 75%, Russian Orthodox 20%, other 5% [+], once a part of the Soviet Union, gained independence in 1991 and is now a secular state. The unrest appears to have more to do with dissatisfaction with government policy and corruption.

Kyrgyz President Flees Capital, Opposition Claims Power

WATCH: Deadly clashes between thousands of antigovernment protesters and security forces have left at least 40 people dead and 400 wounded. (Warning: Some graphic images, video: Reuters)

BISHKEK (RFE/RL) -- Opposition leaders in Kyrgyzystan claim to have ousted the government and driven President Kurmanbek Bakiev from the capital following clashes between protesters and the police that left at least 40 people dead.

Members of the opposition say Bakiev, who had not been seen or heard from since antigovernment protests began on April 6 in the northwest of the country, has flown to Osh. Opposition leaders say Prime Minister Daniyar Usenov has handed in his resignation.

Kyrgyz opposition leader Temir Sariev said a new government was being formed, headed by former Foreign Minister Roza Otunbaeva. Opposition figure Bolot Sherniazov has also been reportedly named interim interior minister.

The dramatic developments came after a day of chaos and clashes in the capital, which saw protesters battle security forces outside the presidential palace. After a crowd took control of the state television building, opposition leader Omurbek Tekebaev went on state television to demand that the government step down.

Calls For Restraint

The latest official death toll of 40 comes from the country's Health Ministry, which also said 400 people have been wounded. That figure was contradicted by opposition activist Toktoim Umetalieva, who said at least 100 people died after police fired live ammunition at a crowd.

In Washington, U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said the United States was monitoring developments and expressed its support for the "the Kyrgyz Republic and people of Kyrgyzstan." He said the United States had not received confirmation that the opposition had seized power.

EU foreign-affairs chief Catherine Ashton and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin also voiced concern about the violence, and both called for restraint.

The chaos follows weeks of tension between the opposition and the government led by Bakiev, who opponents says has cracked down on independent media and fostered corruption.

Bakiev came to power after the People's, or "Tulip" Revolution in March 2005 that ousted longtime President Askar Akaev, who many accused of consolidating power for himself and helping friends and family members get government posts.

In the capital today, RFE/RL correspondents reported seeing demonstrators seize the country's parliament building and entering the Prosecutor-General's Office, where they burned files and set fire to the building.

Protesters also attacked the National Security Committee's headquarters but didn't gain entry.

Protests Spread Across The Country

In the northwestern city of Talas today -- scene of the April 6 unrest -- RFE/RL's correspondent reported seeing Interior Minister Moldomusa Kongantiev and Governor Beishen Bolotbekov being beaten up outside the local police station by protesters who also seized that building. Reports that he had died of his injuries were dismissed as untrue.

Kongantiev had gone to Talas after thousands of protesters seized the government building there overnight.

Protesters seized the building on April 6, briefly holding the governor hostage before police and commandos retook the building in the evening. The protesters returned later and reoccupied the building after reportedly attacking some of the policemen. The authorities said some 80 policemen were injured, some by protesters throwing stones.

In the northeastern city of Naryn a crowd reportedly numbering more than 1,000 people seized the provincial administration building there today. Other demonstrations were reported in the northern town of Tokmok, where protesters surrounded the local police administration.

Kazakhstan, the current chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, expressed concern about the unrest and called for "calm and restraint on all sides." Kazakh Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabaev said he had spoken on the phone with his Kyrgyz counterpart Kadyrbek Sarbaev.

Neighboring Uzbekistan reportedly increased security along its borders with Kyrgyzstan.

Kyrgyzstan's border control service said it had closed its border with Kazakhstan late on April 7 at the request of the Kazakh authorities.

Russia, which has a military base at Kant airport outside Bishkek, expressed concern about the ongoing tension in Kyrgyzstan. Moscow called on the Kyrgyz government not to use force against protesters to avoid bloodshed. The Interfax news agency quoted sources in Kant as saying Russian forces remained inside the base and that they had been put on a state of higher alert.

The international pressure group Human Rights Watch earlier called on the Kyrgyz government to allow peaceful opposition protests to take place today, and to refrain from force to break up gatherings.

Pic HuffPost