Bishkek, April 08: A Total of 75 people were killed and around 1000 injured in the riots that saw the Kyrgyz opposition take control of the Central Asian state, the health ministry said today.
Thousands of protesters, angered over rampant corruption and steep utility rate hikes, clashed with security forces in the capital Bishkek and across the impoverished ex-Soviet nation on Wednesday.
Opponents of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev announced late Wednesday that they had taken control of all the main state institutions, including state television, and had formed a provisional government led by former foreign minister Roza Otunbayeva.
Officials said President Bakiyev had fled the capital on Wednesday aboard a small plane and had gone to the southern city of Osh.
—Agencies