DZHALAL-ABAD – Supporters of former Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev have taken control over the regional administration buildings in the Osh, Jalal-Abad and Batken regions on Thursday evening.

Currently, they are supported by 25,000 southern Kyrgyz residents, who are prepared to get together in Jalal-Abad and to head north so as to “confront the interim government,” Bakiyev’s support committee said.

The interim Kyrgyz government is illegitimate, and Bakiyev’s supporters are going to restore the previous government in power, the committee’s spokesperson said.

The building of the Jalal-Abad administration building has been taken over by Bakiyev’s supporters, with 2,000-2,500 people staying on central square and inside the building.

Governor Bektur Asanov, appointed by the interim government, is not in the building. Previous governor Faizulla Rakhmanov, who is wanted by the interim government, is expected to arrive there shortly, Bakiyev’s support committee’s spokesperson said.

In Osh, the building of the regional administration and the town’s center are controlled by around 1,500 people. Local police officers are also on the square, trying to keep the situation under control.

Meanwhile, the leader of the Uzbek community in Osh, Kadyrzhan Batyrov, has demanded that his community members show support for the interim government.

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