Kyrgyzstan opposition sets up 'people's government'
Violence on the streets of Bishkek as protesters and police clash
The opposition in Kyrgyzstan says it is setting up a "people's government" after deadly clashes left dozens dead.
An opposition leader and former foreign minister, Roza Otunbayeva, told the BBC that new defence and interior ministers had been appointed.
The whereabouts of President Bakiyev are not clear but reports say that he has flown out of the capital, Bishkek.
Protests at rising prices, corruption and the arrest of opposition leaders had erupted in three cities.
Ms Otunbayeva said the interim government would remain in power for six months and draw up a new constitution.
Kyrgyzstan is a strategically important Central Asian state and houses a key US military base that supplies forces in Afghanistan. Russia also has a base there.
Ms Otunbayeva said these military bases could continue as before.
The United States said it deplored the violence and urged "respect for the rule of law". It also said it believed the government was still in control.
Russian PM Vladimir Putin denied that Moscow had played any role in the unrest, saying it was a "domestic affair" and that there should be "restraint".
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said the protests showed the "outrage at the existing regime".
A spokesman for Ban Ki-moon said the UN secretary general was "shocked by the reported deaths and injuries that have occurred today in Kyrgyzstan. He urgently appeals for dialogue and calm to avoid further bloodshed".
 | AT THE SCENE  Rayhan Demytrie, BBC News, Bishkek Stun grenades and live rounds were fired at protesters in Bishkek's main square. The situation was chaotic with protesters attempting to move towards the presidential administration. They were shouting that President Bakiyev must go. A young protester was shot dead at the scene. His body was lying on a marble pavement and a large crowd was gathering around it. There was anger, lots of it. The protesters attacked riot police with rocks and machetes - some police officers were badly injured. Men in Kyrgyzstan compare Wednesday's riots to the ones five years ago when mass protests brought President Bakiyev to power. He was the hero of the so-called Tulip Revolution - a politician who many in Kyrgyzstan hoped would bring democratic changes to the country. But today, people are angry and frustrated. The detention of opposition leaders on Tuesday night backfired. Wednesday's protests were uncontrollable. |
Gunfire is continuing into the night in Bishkek with shops set alight.
The BBC's Rayhan Demytrie in Bishkek says there is widespread looting, with hundreds of protesters moving from one store to another.
The Kyrgyz health ministry said 40 people had died in the clashes and more than 400 were injured.
But the opposition says that is far too low. In a broadcast on a TV channel it took over, spokesman Omurbek Tekebayev said at least 100 demonstrators had been killed.
The opposition used its channel to say that it was setting up a government that would be headed by former foreign minister, Rosa Otunbayeva.
Ms Otunbayeva said in a broadcast: "Power is now in the hands of the people's government. Responsible people have been appointed and are already working to normalise the situation."
The Associated Press news agency reported that an opposition leader had taken over the National Security Agency, the successor to the Soviet KGB.
But Galina Skripkina, of the opposition Social-Democratic Party, told Reuters news agency that the president had not yet resigned.
"He must... formally submit his resignation to parliament so we can appoint a caretaker government," she said.
Reuters also quoted the Kyrgyz border control as saying the frontier with Kazakhstan had been closed.
Agence France-Presse says the US has suspended military flights at its base in Kyrgyzstan.
Curfews
The whereabouts of the president remain unknown. Opposition figures said he had flown out of Bishkek and had landed in the southern city of Osh.
| KYRGYZSTAN FACTS One of the poorest of the former Soviet states Hosts both US and Russian military air bases Population mostly Kyrgyz but 15% are Uzbek and a significant number of Russians live in the north and around the capital Kurmanbek Bakiyev has been president since the Tulip Revolution of 2005, which overthrew the government of Askar Akayev Mr Bakiyev vowed to restore stability but has been accused of failing to tackle corruption Opponents also complain he has installed relatives in key government posts Domestic media have come under increasing pressure from the government in recent months  |
Mr Bakiyev came to power amid a wave of street protests in 2005 known as the Tulip Revolution, but many of his allies have deserted him claiming intimidation and corruption.
The unrest had broken out in the provincial town of Talas on Tuesday and spread to Bishkek and another town, Naryn, on Wednesday. All three were put under curfew.
Interior Minister Moldomusa Kongatiyev, who was believed to have gone to Talas to calm the situation, was reportedly severely beaten.
Some reports said he had been killed by the mob, others that he was taken hostage, but there is no confirmation of his fate.
The violence may also have been exacerbated by the arrest of several opposition leaders, including Temir Sariyev, who was detained after arriving on a flight from Moscow on Wednesday. He was freed by protesters on Wednesday.
Police in Bishkek initially used tear gas and stun grenades to try to disperse protesters.
But the demonstrators overcame the police and marched to the presidential offices in the city centre.
Police cars were overturned and set alight and officers attacked by the crowd.
Gunfire could be heard crackling through the centre of Bishkek. The prosecutor's office was also set alight.
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