OPPOSITION KEEPS UP THE PRESSURE

On March 10, the opposition People's Movement of Kyrgyzstan announced the
creation of the "Coordination Council of People's Unity" - a body set up to
coordinate protest actions throughout the country. Their press release
reads, "People's Unity supports demands of the people and coordinates
actions aimed at achieving the resignation of President Askar Akaev, early
presidential elections, the cancellation of parliamentary election results,
and the scheduling of [new] parliamentary elections in six months' time."

On March 6, talking to a crowd of protesters in Jalalabad, People's Movement
of Kyrgyzstan leader Kurmanbek Bakiev called for talks on the possibility of
holding an early presidential election.

The Forum of Political Forces - a umbrella group comprising the People's
Movement of Kyrgyzstan, Atajurt (Fatherland), Jany Bagyt (New Course), the
People's Congress of Kyrgyzstan, and the Civil Union for Fair Elections -
said the following day that the previous parliament should be convened
immediately. Ishengul Boljurova of the People's Movement of Kyrgyzstan and
Roza Otunbaeva of Atajurt said the old parliament's powers should be
extended for a year so that it can legislate for an early presidential
election.

On March 10, 23 deputies from the outgoing legislature duly gathered at the
parliament building, and passed a motion of no confidence in both the
president and the Central Election Commission. Their meeting took place
outside the building as they were prevented from entering.

AUTHORITIES IRKED BY CONTINUING UNREST

President Askar Akaev addressed the nation on television on March 10 to
discuss the current political situation. He described the current unrest as
"a planned and unprecedented campaign of disruption of the parliamentary
elections" which he said had been launched by a group of unsuccessful
candidates. He called on the population of Kyrgyzstan to support measures
designed to impose order, and to stand up to "provocateurs and irresponsible
politicians".

The following day, Akaev's press secretary Abdil Segizbaev told journalists
that the opposition is provoking the president to call a referendum to
confirm his presidential powers. Commenting on the creation the People's
Unity council, Segizbaev noted that a similar campaign in 2002 had resulted
in a referendum in February 2003 in which Akaev's rule was backed by 79 per
cent of voters.

Prime Minister Nikolai Tanaev has taken a tough line, warning that all
protest organisers risked being punished in due course. Speaking on March 5,
Tanaev said the government was being patient and would not use force, he
said, but it was taking note of each breach of the law.

Four days later, Tanaev criticised his ministers for not being firm enough
with the protesters. In particular, he reproached the National Security
Service for its failure to make timely reports to him about protest events
outside the capital; and the education ministry for not preventing high
school and university students from becoming involved in opposition
politics.

In the southern city of Osh, mayor Satybaldy Chyrmashev warned on March 9
that the local authorities are considering introducing a state of emergency
"in order to protect calm among the 500,000 residents of Osh".

OPPOSITION WARNED NOT TO GO TOO FAR

On March 9, the Bishkek office of the Organisation for Security and
Cooperation in Europe, OSCE, issued a statement reminding people that their
freedom of assembly does not extend to blocking roads and storming public
buildings. Such illegal actions could draw in the security forces and result
in violence, they warned.

Ambassador Marcus Muller said that despite the OSCE's conclusions that the
February 27 ballot had significant deficiencies, the election results
generally reflected the will of the electorate.

GRASSROOTS PROTESTS CONTINUE

Protesters in Jalalabad remain on the main square and are still holding the
regional government building.

On March 10, demonstrators in Jalalabad took an editor and cameraman from
Kyrgyz state television hostage, complaining that their reporting of events
in this southern region had been biased. A further four state TV cameramen
who arrived from Bishkek were taken to the protestors' headquarters. A day
later, state television reported that all six journalists had been set free
by police after three hours in captivity.

On March 7, around 500 people took over the district-level local government
offices in the town of Uzgen, also in southern Kyrgyzstan, and ejected the
officials working there. As with other protests, they were demanding the
resignation of President Akaev and the cancellation of the election results.

Two days later, supporters of candidate Ishenbay Kadyrbekov, who was
prevented from standing in the first-round ballot, attempted to storm the
Naryn regional administration, but were stopped by police guarding the
building.

Up to 1,000 supporters of candidate Akbokon Tashtanbekov, who had lost in
the Kant constituency, set off on a march to the capital on March 10. Close
to Bishkek, they were blocked by a police cordon and a group of state
officials headed by governor of Chuy region, who was able to convince them
to go back to their homes after promising to deal with their grievances.

A similar march took place in southern Kyrgyzstan. About 200 protesters from
the Karakulja district - mainly supporters of opposition deputy Duyshen
Chotonov who lost his seat in the first round - held a demonstration when
they got to the regional administration building in Osh in March 11, after
walking for two days.

IDENTITY CRISIS

On March 10, a district court cancelled the election result in the
Suzak-Bazarkurgan constituency on the grounds that the winning candidate
Abdumutalip Hakimov has Uzbekistan rather than Kyrgyz citizenship. The court
had been alerted to the passport problem after supporters of Hakimov's
opponent mounted protests.

Immediately after the court announced its decision, the judge was severely
beaten up by a group of people reported to be Hakimov's supporters.