Emergency in Kyrgyzstan as protests turn violent
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A protestor throws stones outside the presidential office in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, April 7, 2010. [Xinhua] |
![A protestor throws stones outside the presidential office in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, April 7, 2010. [Xinhua]](http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20100407/0011111fa1560d26c19b43.jpg "A protestor throws stones outside the presidential office in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, April 7, 2010. [Xinhua]")
In a related development, the regional government buildings in Naryn and Chui states were overrun by opposition protesters earlier Wednesday, witnesses told Xinhua.
About 3,000 opposition protestors gathered at a central square in the provincial capital of Naryn.
The U.S. embassy in Bishkek Wednesday urged the Kyrgyz government and opposition protesters to start negotiations as early as possible.
The U.S. embassy said in a statement that the U.S. government was deeply concerned about the latest unrest in some Kyrgyz cities.
The statement hoped that all the parties concerned in Kyrgyzstan would abide by law, begin talks as soon as possible, and solve their rifts within the framework of law.
Earlier, Russia urged restraint between Kyrgyz authorities and the opposition and called on them to resolve their disputes through democratic means instead of violence.
In a Tuesday unrest in the northern Kyrgyz town of Talas, at least 15 police officers were missing, and 16 civilians and 85 policemen were injured, Prime Minister Usenov said.
The unrest broke out after the head and deputy head of the main opposition Ata-Meken party were arrested Tuesday. Kyrgyz authorities said the unrest had been put under control.
Usenov told an urgent parliamentary meeting that the country's situation is still under the control of his government and that the government will never negotiate with "rioters."
