Opposition Clashes in Kyrgyzstan

Tempers flare during a march by opposition activists in the Kyrgyzstan capital Bishkek. Around 50 protesters took to the streets to vent their anger over last week's presidential election (July 23). Official results gave incumbent President Kurmanbek Bakiyev 76 percent of the vote. Opposition challenger Almazbek Atambayev got 8 percent and has called the election fraudulent. Waving flags and shouting slogans, the protesters were swiftly intercepted by police. Opposition supporters say they plan to stage more demonstrations in the build-up to a Russia-dominated summit on Friday. They have threatened to block roads in east Kyrgyzstan, where the meeting is due to take place. Opposition to President Bakiyev has now been galvanized, since the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe criticized the election. They've said its monitors witnessed widespread cases of ballot box stuffing and multiple voting.

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News & Politics

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