Angry protesters in Kyrgyzstan seize government office, take governor hostage

Kyrgyz protesters seize government office

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan — Opponents of Kyrgyzstan’s interim authorities have taken over a regional government building in the south in a sign of persistent political turbulence in the Central Asian nation.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered Thursday at the building in the city of Osh to demand the return of former governor Mamasadyk Bakirov, who was ousted during April’s nationwide uprising. The crowd later broke into the building and installed Bakirov in the governor’s office.

Osh is the heartland of support for former President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, who was driven from office by the uprising, which killed at least 85 people.

Some Bakiyev supporters have shown signs of regrouping in recent days and they are holding rallies in favor of officials deposed in the anti-Bakiyev revolt.