Massive rally in support of mayor begins in Osh

BISHKEK, August 20 (Itar-Tass) - A massive rally in support of Osh
Mayor Melis Myrzakmatov began in this southern Kyrgyz city on Friday. Some
1,000-1,500 people are participating in the rally, which is underway in
the city centre at the building housing the state regional authorities.
"People who gathered on the square express solidarity with the mayor
and some of them demand the resignation of Kyrgyz caretaker President Roza
Otunbayeva," eyewitnesses affirm. Many protesters "are in the aggressive
mood," the eyewitnesses said. People mainly from neighbouring highland
regions keep coming to the rally.
The police and interior troops closed the Osh centre.
On Thursday, Osh residents were spreading the rumours about
Myrzakmatov's detention in Bishkek. However, the republican official
authorities did not confirm these reports. There is no phone communication
with the city mayor and his whereabouts are unclear. Myrzakmatov said
earlier in an interview that law enforcers were attempting to arrest him
during a trip to Bishkek, but his armed bodyguards prevented them from
arresting him. The mayor is well-known for his statements against bringing
the OSCE police force in the southern Kyrgyz region and does not intend to
let representatives of several political parties in Osh during the
election campaign for the parliamentary elections in the country due on
October 10.
-0-baz/gor