Opposition supporters and police formed joint patrols to keep order in a southern city of Kyrgyzstan where protesters have seized government offices, and President Askar Akayev pledged Tuesday he would not impose a state of emergency despite demonstrations over alleged election fraud.
Akayev’s statement — a day after opposition protesters took control of the southern city of Osh and several other towns — appeared aimed at avoiding an escalation of tensions in the country, where memories of police killing six demonstrators in 2002 are still strong. Full Story
