Kyrgyz president sacks key aide amid waves of opposition protests

Kyrgyzstan's President Kurmanbek Bakiyev sacked his chief of staff Myktybek Abduldayev on Friday, as opposition supporters continued their protest in the capital, Bishkek, demanding the president's resignation.

Meanwhile, the Kyrgyz opposition distributed pamphlets advocating five demands, among which are calls for the annulment of the new constitution approved by the legislature on Dec. 30; for President Bakiyev be held responsible for the adoption of the constitution; and for the parliament announce early elections.

Also Friday, supporters of the government, under the banner of "peace, unification and promoting reform," launched rallies which spread from the states of Osh and Jalalabad to Naryn and Issyk-kul.

A spokesman for the supporters' rallies said the leaders of the opposition parties had turned a deaf ear to people's cries for the resolution of the dispute through negotiations.

Devoid of the people's support, they were doomed to fail, he added.

Protesters started to gather in the capital's main square Wednesday. Some protesters set up tents and yurts, and vowed to remain there until Bakiyev steps down.

The widespread anger among opposition members was triggered by Bakiyev's signing of a decree in December to reverse several constitutional amendments and recover authority to form a cabinet.

Source: Xinhua