Kyrgyz rally protests results of parliamentary election.

18/10 Tass 124

BISHKEK, October 18 (Itar-Tass) - Some 200 people gathered in
Bishkek's central square on Monday to protest the results of the
parliamentary elections. The protesters demand that the Ata-Zhurt
("Motherland") Party not be allowed into the parliament.
"All of us who have gathered here, are relatives of the people killed
during the April events," a rally participant told Itar-Tass, "we believe
that our brothers, sons and fathers died not for the sake of 'Bakiyev's'
people from Ata-Zhurt coming to power." Several protesters were holding
placards in their hands reading "Murderers must be tried" and "We won't
let Bakiyev come back."
Some Kyrgyz media outlets reported that a similar rally was staged in
the regional center of Naryn.
On April 7, 2010, several thousand supporters of the Opposition came
to Bishkek's central square to demand the resignation of President
Kurmanbek Bakiyev. They attempted to take over the House of Government
which accommodates the presidential administration. The military guarding
the building opened fire at the protesters, killing 90 and wounding
several hundred.
Also on Monday, a protest was staged in Kyrgyzstan's second largest
city Osh. Eye-witnesses told Tass several hundred people gathered in the
regional center's main square and announced an indefinite hungerstrike in
support of the Butun Kyrgyzstan (United Kyrgyzstan) Party.
The protesters insist that the party has gathered enough votes to be
represented in the new parliament.
United Kyrgyzstan activists believe that their party has cleared the
5-percent barrier and won the right to several seats in the country's top
legislative body.
The republic's Central Election Commission, citing preliminary
results, claimed that United Kyrgyzstan had only gathered 4.84 percent of
votes. It explained that on the election day, some 200,000 people on
additional voter lists cast ballots, and agreed to check the voter lists
and the final voting protocols.
During the October 10 parliamentary election, 56 percent of the
2.85-million electorate came to voting stations. Twenty-nine parties were
competing for 120 seats in the parliament. Just five of them cleared the
5-percent barrier, with 0.5 to 3 percent differences. Ata-Zhurt which
finished first is expected to get 27 to 29 seats. It is followed by Social
Democrats (25 to 26 mandates), Ar-Namys (Dignity) that hopes for 22 to 24
seats, and Respublika (20 to 22 seats). Ata-Meken (Fatherland) finished
last, and is expected to get 18 to 19 seats. If the CEC agrees that United
Kyrgyzstan has cleared the 5-percent barrier, the political setup in the
new parliament may change dramatically.
-0-myz/mil