Kyrgyzstan, April 07: Opposition supporters are staging demonstrations in Kyrgyzstan to protest against rising fuel prices and what they see as official corruption.
Police in the capital, Bishkek, fired tear gas and stun grenades to disperse hundreds of protesters outside the main opposition headquarters, reports say.
The unrest comes a day after thousands of people stormed government offices in the northwest city of Talas.
They were calling for the resignation of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev.
At least two opposition leaders were detained by police overnight.
The US embassy in Bishkek has said it is deeply concerned about the unrest while Russia has urged the Kyrgyz authorities to show restraint.
Reports from the capital say at least 200 people had gathered outside the headquarters of the main opposition movement.
The protesters attacked vehicles and chased police into nearby buildings.
Police fired tear gas and fired stun grenades to break up the crowds.
Leader arrests
On Tuesday, protesters in Talas briefly took the local governor hostage while another 500 surrounded the local police headquarters.
The Talas protesters took a local governor hostage
Angry crowds attacked special forces police with rocks and petrol bombs. They reportedly set fire to portraits of President Bakiyev.
Prime Minister Daniyar Usenov said at least 85 people were injured in the unrest – most of the injured were reported to be police officers.
The opposition movement had called for nationwide protests on Wednesday, but the BBC’s Rayhan Demytrie in Bishkek says the authorities have been trying to prevent people attending demonstrations.
Several opposition leaders were arrested overnight and journalists attacked, adding to the tensions in the country, says our correspondent.
Late on Tuesday, security forces stormed the home of Almazbek Atambayev, the country’s most popular opposition politician and former presidential candidate, in Bishkek.
Another leader, Temir Sariyev, was reportedly arrested on Wednesday morning as he arrived in the country on a flight from Moscow.
“The government is clearly trying to prevent further opposition rallies. But we will hold them anyway,” opposition activist Toktoaim Umetaliyeva told Reuters.
The US has said it is deeply concerned about the civil unrest in the country.
In a statement, the US embassy in Bishkek said it would call on “all parties to show respect for the rule of law and call on both the demonstrators and the government to engage in talks to resolve differences in a peaceful, orderly and legal manner”.
Moscow has also expressed concern, with Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin urging the authorities not to use force against demonstrators, the Interfax news agency reported.
Web blocked
The unrest comes amid rising tensions between the opposition and the government.
Came to power after “Tulip Revolution” street protests in 2005
His party won every parliamentary seat in 2007 polls – which observers said did not meet international standards
Won re-election again in 2009 – but EU observers again said poll was flawed
Opposition accuses him of a media crackdown, nepotism and corruption
Profile: Kurmanbek Bakiyev
In recent weeks, the authorities have clamped down on independent media, and several internet news sources are still blocked in the country, our correspondent reports.
There has also been rising discontent with the role of President Bakiyev’s son who was recently appointed as the head of an important government agency.
Five years ago, mass protests in Kyrgyzstan brought Mr Bakiyev to power.
He promised to fight corruption and promote democracy, but his critics say the country has become increasingly authoritarian under his rule, our correspondent says.
Last week UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited Bishkek and called on the government to do more to protect human rights.
On Tuesday, the UN said Mr Ban was “concerned” at events in Talas and urged all parties to show restraint.
—Agencies