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Kyrgyzstan officials vow to stop efforts to disrupt election

Kyrgyzstan's authorities moved yesterday to show they were fully in control following clashes between police and protesters, and a senior official promised measures to avert disruption to next mont's presidential poll.

A cordon of around 1,000 police officers guarded the main government complex known as the White House after security forces on Friday dispersed up to 7,000 demonstrators using batons and tear gas.

The cast iron fence surrounding the giant building had been repaired and numerous police officers patrolled the capital's streets. Security forces temporarily restricted entrance to the capital overnight Friday, setting up checkpoints around its perimeter, an interior ministry spokesman said.

"Now the situation is completely under our control," Vice Prime Minister Daniar Usenov told reporters.

He said that Friday's unrest, in which protesters seized the election commission's office in the White House, had been orchestrated by people loyal to Askar Akayev, the country's ousted former leader.

Usenov accused the Akayev loyalists of trying to force a delay in the July 10 poll, which interim President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, swept to power after Akayev's March ouster, is seen as likely to win.

"There are forces interested in delaying the elections until the autumn ... with participation of supporters of Akayev," Usenov said. "We are doing everything so that the presidential election on July 10 takes place normally."

Some 216 people were taken into custody and 41 were hurt in the clashes between police and supporters of Urmatbek Baryktabasov, a businessman whom officials disqualified from standing in next month's poll, saying he had given up his Kyrgyz citizenship and become a Kazakh citizen.

Those detained by police in relation to the disorder have all given "indications that they each received 1,000 soums (US$25)," Usenov said.

Baryktabasov, an associate of Akayev's daughter Bermet, is now being sought by police, Usenov said.

Russian news agencies yesterday said Kyrgyz investigators would be visiting Moscow soon to question Akayev. As a former president, Akayev is immune from investigation in Kyrgyzstan.
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