Govt: At least 180 wounded in Kyrgyzstan protests, opposition says 17 people are killed

Govt: At least 180 wounded in Kyrgyzstan protests

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan — The Kyrgyzstan Health Ministry says at least 180 people have been wounded in clashes between police and anti-government protesters in this Central Asian nation.

Health Ministry spokeswoman Elena Bayalinova gave the figure without specifying whether it included both police and civilians. She would not confirm any deaths.

Protests are spiraling in Kyrgyzstan, where anti-government demonstrators stormed the main government building and the state television station Wednesday in the capital of Bishkek. Police in Bishkek opened fire on the protesters and an opposition leader said at least 17 people were killed.

Another opposition activist, Shamil Murat, told The Associated Press he saw the dead body of Interior Minister Moldomusa Kongatiyev, who was beaten up by a mob in the western town of Talas.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (AP) — An opposition member in Kyrgyzstan says a mob of angry protesters beat up the Central Asian nation’s interior minister, who died shortly afterward.

Opposition activist Shamil Murat told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he saw the dead body of Minister Moldomusa Kongatiyev in a government building in the western town of Talas.

Murat said the protesters in Talas who seized a police headquarters on the second day of anti-government rallies beat up Kongatiyev and forced him to order his subordinates in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek to stop a crackdown on an opposition rally there.

Police in Bishkek opened fire earlier Wednesday the protesters and an opposition leader said at least 17 were killed. Protesters in Bishkek also stormed the building of the state-owned television company.