Thousands rally against dramatic rise in Kazakh living costs
Wednesday 17 March 2010
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EmailThousands of demonstrators have rallied in Bishkek against sharp increases in the cost of heating and electricity and alleged repression of government opponents.
Addressing a crowd of around 3,000 people, Ata Meken Socialist Party leader Omurbek Tekebayev said that the opposition "should take power into its own hands" if the government does not heed its demands.
Public dissatisfaction with President Kurmanbek Bakiyev's administration is running high after it privatised the state telecom and energy firms.
And many are angry at Mr Bakiyev's decision to allow the US military to continue to use Manas airport for the transshipment of soldiers and material to Afghanistan.
Last month, the Council of Kyrgyz Aksakals, or Elders, demanded that the base be closed.
Academician Omorbai Narbekov, a member of the council, said that the demand was issued after captured terrorist Abdolmalek Rigi, leader of the sectarian Jundallah outfit, alleged that the US was using the Manas base to prepare a force to foment regime change in neighbouring Iran.
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