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| Kyrgyz president sacks minister | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Kyrgyzstan's President Kurmanbek Bakiyev has sacked his interior minister in a bid to end mounting protests, reports say. | |
| Interior Minister Osmonali Guronov was replaced by Omurbek Suvanaliyev. | |
| The news came as thousands of people continued to protest outside government buildings in the capital Bishkek. | |
| They are calling for President Bakiyev himself to resign, saying he has failed to introduce democratic reforms he promised upon his election in 2005. | |
| 'No violence' | 'No violence' |
| Thousands of demonstrators gathered next to the iron gate of the presidential palace chanting "Down with Bakiyev", according to the BBC's Natalia Antelava, in Bishkek. | Thousands of demonstrators gathered next to the iron gate of the presidential palace chanting "Down with Bakiyev", according to the BBC's Natalia Antelava, in Bishkek. |
| Riot police had first encircled the building but then let the demonstrators come closer, she added. | Riot police had first encircled the building but then let the demonstrators come closer, she added. |
| Following his appointment, new Interior Minister Omurbek Suvanaliyev is reported to have sought to reassure the protesters that they would not be fired upon by the police. | Following his appointment, new Interior Minister Omurbek Suvanaliyev is reported to have sought to reassure the protesters that they would not be fired upon by the police. |
| "We are with the people. Let's keep order here and find a political solution to political demands. There were will no use of violence against you while I am minister," he said, addressing them from the protesters' own loudspeaker truck. | "We are with the people. Let's keep order here and find a political solution to political demands. There were will no use of violence against you while I am minister," he said, addressing them from the protesters' own loudspeaker truck. |
| Mr Suvanaliyev is respected by the opposition but his appointment has been dismissed as a tactical move by the president to buy more time, Reuters news agency reports. | Mr Suvanaliyev is respected by the opposition but his appointment has been dismissed as a tactical move by the president to buy more time, Reuters news agency reports. |
| Boycotting parliament | Boycotting parliament |
| Earlier, opposition leaders accused the president of pushing the country into a political deadlock after he failed to arrive, as promised, at parliament to present a new constitution. | Earlier, opposition leaders accused the president of pushing the country into a political deadlock after he failed to arrive, as promised, at parliament to present a new constitution. |
| Instead, President Bakiyev sent suggestions for several amendments - which were rejected as not significant enough by the opposition. | Instead, President Bakiyev sent suggestions for several amendments - which were rejected as not significant enough by the opposition. |
| Thousands of people have gathered in the capital since Thursday, calling on President Bakiyev to resign. | Thousands of people have gathered in the capital since Thursday, calling on President Bakiyev to resign. |
| They say he has not fulfilled the promise he made when he took power that he would hand over some presidential powers to parliament. | They say he has not fulfilled the promise he made when he took power that he would hand over some presidential powers to parliament. |
| Nearly half the country's MPs are boycotting parliament. | Nearly half the country's MPs are boycotting parliament. |
| Mr Bakiyev said at the end of last week that any reforms could not be hurried through as fast as the opposition wants. | Mr Bakiyev said at the end of last week that any reforms could not be hurried through as fast as the opposition wants. |