Kyrgyzstan uprising victims mourned

Thousands of mourners have turned out in Kyrgyzstan's capital to honor the more than 70 people killed in Wednesday's violent uprising that forced the country's president flee.

The country's new self-proclaimed interim government organized funeral and memorial services on the outskirts of Bishkek, the capital, on Saturday, during a second day of mourning.

The services came as the interim government offered Kurmanbek Bakiyev, the ousted Kyrgyz president, safe passage out of the country if he agrees to officially resign his post.

Roza Otunbayeva, the leader of the interim administration, told Al Jazeera that her government had started criminal proceedings against the ousted president's allies.

She said that the interim government was "pretty much in control of the whole country", but warned that there could be more violence if Bakiyev tried to stay in office.

Kyrgyz 'heroes'

Anger bubbled over on Wednesday at Bakiyev's administration for rampant corruption and hikes in utility rates, sparking violent protests that forced him to flee the capital for the south of the country, where he retains support.

Source: Al-Jazeera.
Link: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2010/04/201041053411388376.html.