US Supports Kyrgyz Opposition
There were incidents of looting around the capital as night approached. Individuals looted the largest department store of the city "Beta Stores" which belongs to a Turkish businessman, the Silk Way shopping center that belongs to the son of Adayev, Aydar Akayev, as well as the Narodniy shopping center. The oil stations franchise that belongs to Aydar Akayev was also looted. Felix Kulov, who was assigned as the head of the security forces by the parliament said that they will try to establish order in the streets of Bishkek by morning. Kulov was imprisoned for five years. It is reported that at least 67 people were injured during the mass demonstrations against the Akayev administration but there were reports of any deaths. The opposition gathered in the capital during the early hours of the morning, and fought with security forces and Akayev supporters in front of the Presidential compound. Police withdrew and protesters entered the Presidential compound. Portraits of Akayev and some other items were thrown from the windows. The protesters took control of the state television a couple of hours later. The network, which was broadcasting songs all day, began to broadcast video images of the demonstrations. Meanwhile, the Kyrgyzstan Ambasador to Belgium, the word famous Cengiz Aytmatov, said that the events constitute a true revolution.