Supporters of Kyrgyzstan's toppled president put up fresh resistance against the country's new rulers on Monday, gathering hundreds in the south to rally against the self-proclaimed government.
Kurmanbek Bakiyev was toppled in a violent revolt on April 7 and went into exile after days of turmoil that disrupted flights from a U.S. air base supporting operations in Afghanistan.
The interim government, which came to power after Bakiyev's overthrow, says its forces now control the entire nation, but a surge of unrest in the south -- Bakiyev's tribal stronghold -- has threatened its authority.
Trying to consolidate, the new government unveiled a reform plan on Monday including shifting powers from the president to parliament and holding free parliamentary and presidential elections in late September or early October.
But in the southern city of Jalalabad, Bakiyev loyalists seized a regional government office over the weekend and about 1,500 supporters rallied in the city square on Monday morning.
"Bakiyev is our legitimate president!" shouted the crowd, some holding banners reading "The opposition spilled blood to grab power." Others gave out leaflets calling for Bakiyev's comeback.
A Reuters reporter in Jalalabad said there were no police and Bakiyev supporters walked in and out of the government building freely, but the overall mood was peaceful.
By: Brant
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