Kyrgyz leader says opponents seeking 'state coup'

Bishkek, Apr 10: Kyrgyzstan's president today accused his opponents of wanting to stage a ''state coup'' by rejecting his offer of talks and pressing ahead with plans to hold protests calling on him to resign.

President Kurmanbek Bakiyev said tomorrow's planned protest would be allowed to go ahead but said police would take the ''very strongest measures'' against anyone breaking the law.

The impoverished Central Asian state, home to both US and Russian military airbases, has lurched from one political crisis to another since Bakiyev's predecessor Askar Akayev fled from violent demonstrations against vote rigging in March 2005.

''A thought-out strategy is underway for an illegal change of power, for a state coup,'' Bakiyev said.

''A group of dissatisfied politicians wants to divide power in a way that suits them under the guise of calling for faster reform,'' he said in a statement.

Bakiyev has already weathered a series of protests against his rule, most recently in November.

His critics say he has not fought corruption or established the rule of law and has sabotaged constitutional reforms that were meant to weaken the powers that his office enjoys.

In his statement, Bakiyev denied those charges saying graft was being tackled and democratic reform was in progress.

''By organising demonstration after demonstration they are not just disrupting the economy, but also the calm lives of citizens who must again and again live in fear of possible disorder,'' Bakiyev said.

Seeking to defuse the latest challenge to his rule, Bakiyev last week invited one leading member of the opposition, Almaz Atambayev, to join his government as prime minister.

He offered to hold talks with others, including his former prime minister Felix Kulov who defected to the opposition, but the opposition rejected the offer saying they wanted his resignation and early presidential elections.

''We have made every possible compromise,'' Bakiyev said. ''Not because the authorities are weak. But because we answer for the stability and peace, for the unity of the country.'' It was not clear how widely Wednesday's planned demonstration would be supported. Up to 100 demonstrators have been camped outside parliament on hunger strike in traditional felt tents known as yurts since last Thursday.

Up to 15,000 people initially joined the protests in November, although their numbers dwindled to a few thousand during the week-long demonstration.

Britain's Foreign Office todya updated its travel advice to Kyrgyzstan, saying political tensions remained high and urged its citizens to avoid any large crowds.

Reuters