Kyrgyzstan’s opposition controls government headquarters, death toll rises to 68

Kyrgyz opposition controls government building

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan — The opposition seized Kyrgyzstan’s government headquarters Thursday following clashes between protesters and security forces that have left 68 people dead nationwide, and appeared to control this Central Asian country that houses a key U.S. air base.

No police guarded the government headquarters, and hundreds of jubilant but calm residents stood outside, including some who had climbed up on an armored personnel carrier. Others were walking freely through the building known as the White House.

Scars of Wednesday’s fighting, though, were everywhere in the capital, Bishkek, and the Health Ministry said the death toll rose overnight to 68, with 400 people still hospitalized. The numbers included those killed or wounded in clashes elsewhere in the country as protesters drove out local governments.

President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, who came to power in a similar popular uprising five years ago, was said to have fled to the southern city of Osh, and it was difficult to gauge how much of the impoverished, mountainous country the opposition controlled.

Opposition leader Rosa Otunbayeva, a former foreign minister who has declared herself head of an interim government, was to address parliament Thursday morning.

Some semblance of order returned to Bishkek, where until the early hours of the morning gunfire could be heard as marauding, looting mobs rampaged through the city.

Almost no government building was left untouched. Some were set on fire or had windows smashed. A three-story Chinese trading house was ablaze Thursday.

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

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (AP) — Kyrgyzstan’s opposition has taken over the government headquarters, the site of deadly clashes with police, and appears to be in control of the capital Thursday.

No police guard the building, and hundreds of jubilant but calm residents are standing outside and walking in.

Scars of the fighting, though, are everywhere, and the Health Ministry says the death toll rose overnight to 68, with 400 people still hospitalized.

The government of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev appears to have fled.

Opposition leader Rosa Otunbayeva has declared herself head of an interim government of this Central Asian nation housing a key U.S. air base.

She is to address parliament Thursday.