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Thousands join Bishkek protests | |
(about 10 hours later) | |
Up to 10,000 people have joined opposition protests in the main square of Bishkek, capital of the ex-Soviet Central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan. | |
Several thousand of them plan to stay overnight in the tent city they have built in the city, which saw an uprising in March 2005. | |
The opposition say their protest will grow until President Kurmanbek Bakiyev resigns or calls a new election. | |
The government has called for dialogue, but the opposition will not compromise. | |
Thousands of opposition supporters gathered in Bishkek's main square calling for the president's resignation. | |
Corruption and poverty | |
At one point, Prime Minister Almaz Atambayev came up to the stage. He called for a dialogue with the government, but the crowd jeered him away. | |
Between the political speeches and calls for the president's resignation, pop stars came to entertain. | |
The protestors, many of whom plan to stay overnight, say they are tired of the corruption and poverty that President Bakiyev had promised, but failed, to end. | |
There are fears the protests could lead to confrontation | |
Behind these protests is Felix Kulov the former prime minister and, until recently, President Bakiyev's close ally. | |
Together, they led the street protests in 2005 that ousted the previous leader, Askar Akayev. | |
Mr Kulov says he is determined to push for the president's resignation. | |
Yet, Mr Bakiyev is not without his supporters and many residents of the capital fear that their battle for power may lead to confrontation. | |
The prospect of instability in the central Asian state is a worry to Russia and the US, both of which have air bases in the country. |