By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Bishkek : At least six people were killed and some 100 injured in clashes between rioters and the police in the Kyrgyz capital Wednesday, officials said.
Authorities have imposed a state of emergency in Bishkek.
Protesters are demanding the release of opposition leaders detained Tuesday and Wednesday by the authorities.
“A state of emergency was imposed in the city. All residents are recommended to remain home,” the Bishkek City Hall spokesman said.
Kyrgyz ombudsman Tursunbek Akun has been attempting to organise negotiations with the government to release the opposition leaders.
“We cannot control the situation as almost all the opposition leaders have been detained or under house arrest,” Kyrgyz Social-Democratic party deputy Irina Karamushkina said.
Police estimate there are several thousand protesters on the streets.
Russia has called on the Kyrgyz authorities to avoid violence.
“As we are interested in preserving political stability in a country that is friendly to us, we consider it important to resolve the issues raised by the current situation by legal means,” Russian foreign ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said.
Major political unrest started in Kyrgyzstan last month, with opposition parties accusing the government of tightening its grip on power while failing to bring stability and economic growth.
Kyrgyzstan, where Russia and the US have military bases, has been unstable since President Kurmanbek Bakiyev came to power, toppling his long-serving predecessor Askar Akayev, in 2005.