Foggy prospects for Kyrgyzstan
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After clashes that left at least 75 people dead and another 1,000 injured, political prospects for Kyrgyzstan remained unclear, as an interim coalition government has been formed by the opposition parties on Thursday, while President Kurmanbek Bakiyev at the center of the political whirlpool still refused to resign.
Interim government formed
Former Foreign Minister Roza Otunbayeva announced on Thursday at a press conference the formation of the interim government to replace that of fleeing Bakiyev.
Otunbayeva, who will serve as prime minister, said the new governing body would fulfill the duties of the president and the government and rule the Central Asian nation of five million for six months before calling new elections.
She promised a series of political reforms including amending the constitution, and said the new government would slash by 50 percent the current fees for public services including water, electricity and heat.
One reason behind the outrage of the protesters was the huge increases in prices for electricity and gas heating that went into effect in January.
Otunbayeva said at the press conference inside the parliament building that the new government controlled four of the seven provinces and called on Bakiyev to resign.
Thousands of protesters clashed with security forces throughout the country in the past two days, driving out local governments and seizing government headquarters in Bishkek.
The health minister said at least 75 people had been killed and some 1,000 others injured in the unrest Wednesday.
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