3 dead in Kyrgyz regime collapse

2005-03-25 09:17

Bishkek - At least three people died and 173 were hospitalised in Kyrgyzstan's capital during the chaotic fall of the ruling regime and the widespread looting that followed, officials said on Friday.

"Three deaths have been reported to the interior ministry," Timir Sariyev, a parliament deputy, said early on Friday on state television.

Sariyev said one person was shot by security guards at a major supermarket, another fell from the third story of a building, and another person was hit by a car.

The lawmaker did not provide any other details on the victims.

Meanwhile the health ministry reported that 367 people received medical attention and 173 of these had been hospitalised.

Thirty-one of those hospitalised were police officers, the nation's new security chief, Felix Kulov, said in an earlier appearance on state television.

The statements followed a chaotic day in the normally sleepy Kyrgyz capital that saw the regime of veteran leader Askar Akayev collapse after opposition supporters overran the main seat of government.

The unruly demonstration was followed by widespread looting in the capital overnight.

- AFP