Forum Views () 
Forum Replies ()  
 
 
Read more with google mobile :
Ousted Kyrgyz leader: I'm not to blame for deaths  
 
 
 
 
 
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
 
 
 
Australia
China
India
 Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ousted Kyrgyz leader: I'm not to blame for deaths
 
 
  
 
 By PETER LEONARD,Associated Press Writer -
 Monday, April 12
 
 
Send
 
IM Story
 
Print
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TEYIT, Kyrgyzstan – Kyrgyzstan's deposed president on Sunday defended the legitimacy of his rule and urged the United Nations to send peacekeepers to help stabilize the strategically vital Central Asian nation.
 
President Kurmanbek Bakiyev told The Associated Press in an interview at his home village in the south of the country that he had not ordered police to fire at protesters in the capital.
 
"My conscience is clear," he said.
 
Bakiyev fled the capital, Bishkek, on Wednesday after a protest rally against corruption, rising utility bills and deteriorating human rights exploded into police gunfire and chaos that left at least 81 people dead and sparked protesters to storm the government headquarters.
 
Looking self-assured and calm, Bakiyev denounced the protest as a "coup" and angrily rejected the self-proclaimed interim government's demand to step down.
 
"I'm the head of state," he said.
 
The stalemate has left Kyrgyzstan's near-term stability in doubt, a worry for the West because of the U.S. air base in Kyrgyzstan that is a crucial element in the international military campaign against the Taliban in Afghanistan.
 
Bakiyev strongly urged the U.N. to send a peacekeeping force to Kyrgyzstan, arguing that the nation's police and the military are too weak to keep the unrest from spreading.
 
"The people of Kyrgyzstan are very afraid," Bakiyev told the AP in an interview in the yard of his family compound in Teyit, surrounded by almond and apricot trees. "They live in terror."
 
The head of interim government, Roza Otunbayeva, said Sunday that Bakiyev must face trial, rescinding an earlier offer of security guarantees for him. The statement reflected the toughening of the new authorities' stance as they grow increasingly impatient with the ousted Bakiyev's refusal to step down.
 
Speaking to a crowd of supporters Sunday at his family mansion, Bakiyev warned the government against an attempt to arrest him, saying that it will lead to bloodshed. Servants treated the crowd to a traditional rice dish and dumplings.
 
Outside, gangs of young men barricaded a road leading to his house with cars, but they didn't have any weapons.
 
Across the mountains from Bakiyev's stronghold, a deputy head of the self-declared interim government, Omurbek Tekebayev warned Bakiyev (Koor-mahn-BEK Bah-KEE-yev) against using force.
 
"If he attempts to destabilize the situation and shed blood, he would put himself outside the law and we would conduct an operation to destroy him as a terrorist and a criminal," Tekebayev told the AP in the capital, Bishkek.
 
Bakiyev called for an international probe into the circumstances of violence in Bishkek.
 
"An independent international committee should be sent here to conduct a full investigation into the events of April 7," he told the AP. "If the committee says that I'm guilty, I'm willing to accept full responsibility."
 
Bakiyev added that he dosn't trust a probe launched by the self-proclaimed interim government. "I don't believe the people currently conducting the investigation because they are throwing all the blame on me," he said.
 
Bakiyev claimed that the first shots came from protesters, including what he said was a sniper shot that nearly missed him in his office in the government headquarters.
 
"When a sniper intentionally fired at my window and only missed me by chance, naturally the troops returned fire," he said, denouncing the protesters as "zombies."
 
In taking power Thursday, the interim leaders said they controlled four of Kyrgyzstan's seven regions. By Saturday they claimed to have expanded their control throughout the country.
 
Kyrgyzstan's society is strongly clan-based, but there are few signs that Bakiyev could muster any significant tribal support in the south to challenge the self-declared interim government. Some analysts say that a hike in utility prices and massive corruption has set many southerners against Bakiyev.
 
"Bakiyev has poisoned lives of southerners as well as people in the north," said Toktogul Kakchekeyev, an independent political analyst based in Bishkek. He predicted said that Bakiyev will try to bargain with the interim government to receive immunity for all members of his clan in exchange for stepping down.
 
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Saturday spoke with Otunbayeva (Oh-toon-BAH-yeva), the interim leader, to offer humanitarian aid and discuss the importance of the U.S. air base. Otunbayeva reaffirmed the country would abide by previous agreements regarding the base.
 
The U.S. base in Kyrgyzstan provides refueling flights for warplanes over Afghanistan and serves as an important transit point for troops. U.S. Central Command spokesman Maj. John Redfield said that although normal flight operations at the base were resumed Friday, military passenger flights were being temporarily diverted.
 
Russia, which also maintains a military base in Kyrgyzstan, had pushed Bakiyev's government to evict the U.S. military. But after announcing that American forces would have to leave the Manas base, Kyrgyzstan agreed to allow them to stay after the U.S. raised the annual rent to about $63 million from $17 million.
 
_____
 
Associated Press Writers Yuras Karmanau and Leila Saralayeva in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan and Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow contributed to this report.
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Recommend
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Send
 
IM Story
 
Print
 
 
 
 
 
 
Related Articles
 
 
Thailand in turmoil after 21 die in bloody clashes AFP - Monday, April 12
 
Ousted Kyrgyz leader: I'm not to blame for deaths AP - Monday, April 12
 
Ousted Kyrgyz leader: not to blame for bloodshed AP - Monday, April 12
 
Indonesian police arrest 6 suspected terrorists AP - Monday, April 12
 
Afghan president urges Taliban to air grievances AP - Monday, April 12
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
News Search
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Top Stories
 
 
 
 
'All bets are off' if US under WMD attack: Clinton
New clouds form over UN climate strategy
Discovery astronauts undertake second spacewalk
Greece to raise fresh loans, hopes EU seals debt plan
Australian teen on course for sailing record
 
 
 
 More Top Stories »
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
Most Popular
 
 
 
 
Most Viewed
 
Most Recommended
 
 
 
 
American teen aims for Everest record
 
Two-million-year-old hominid sheds light on evolution
 
Taiwan's male 'Susan Boyle' a web sensation
 
IMF chief plays down raising inflation targets
 
McCoy breaks Grand National jinx on Don't Push It
 
 
 More Most Viewed »
 
 
 
 
 
'Rare' fossil of new dinosaur species found in US
 
Two-million-year-old hominid sheds light on evolution
 
Taiwan's male 'Susan Boyle' a web sensation
 
Junkies and junk-food addicts share craving mechanism
 
Toad is a telltale for impending quakes: scientists
 
 
 More Most Recommended »
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
 
 
 
 
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
 
 
Stars and latest movies
 
 
Best travel destinations
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
More on Yahoo! News
 
 
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
 
Also on Yahoo
 
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
 
Site Highlights
 
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
 
 
 
 Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
  
   
 
 
    
   
 
Other News on Monday, 12 April 2010 Israeli groups decry army West Bank deportation rules  
Europe agrees $40 bln Greece rescue deal  
 News  
Iran's Khamenei slams Obama over 'nuclear threat'  
Iraq PM's bloc says fraud may have cost it 750,000 votes  
Hungary's Fidesz wins election with strong mandate
|  
British campaigners threaten pope with arrest
|  
Greek police arrest suspected leftist guerrillas
|  
Brazil flood death toll rises to 224: officials
|  
Drug gangs kill nine in Honduras as violence grows
|  
Ousted Kyrgyz leader: I'm not to blame for deaths  
Security blankets Washington as nuclear summit looms  
Ousted Kyrgyz leader: not to blame for bloodshed  
'All bets are off' if US under WMD attack: Clinton  
 News  
Iran is not yet 'nuclear capable': US defense chief  
Afghan president urges Taliban to air grievances  
Thai protesters reject talks after deadly clashes  
Kyrgyz leader: no guarantees for ousted ruler  
 News  
Airstrikes kill 10 militants in NW Pakistan  
Australian officials seek to protect reef  
Colorado Sheriff's Deputy Tazes 30 Students; Gets Suspended  
Date Night ekes out disputed box office win
|  
 News  
Polish president's coffin returns home to Warsaw
|  
 News  
Thai protesters gather after clashes hit markets
|  
Kyrgyz interim government says to move against Bakiyev
|  
Yemen says seeks cleric, yet to get U.S. intelligence
|  
Pakistani forces kill up to 40 militants in Orakzai
|  
NATO troops kill 4 Afghans on bus: provincial official
|  
Fidesz wins Hungary election with strong mandate
|  
Russia cast as nuclear security leader despite flaws
|  
US-TECH Summary  
Euro rises as markets back Greek rescue deal  
Obama Meets India's Singh; Headley Issue Raises Controversy  
China 3G standard phone sales to surge
|  
Obama Cites Al Qaeda With Nuclear Weapons As Biggest Threat  
Sharp to launch 3D TVs this summer
|  
Google CEO: Tech silence in China spat no shock
|  
Ex-Obama adviser calls on FCC to reclassify Web access: report
|  
Google CEO says Apple helped AdMob deal
|  
Smartphone maker Palm is seeking a buyer: report
|  
 News  
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary  
 News  
Hollywood gripped by baby fever
|  
Titans tops foreign box office again
|  
Conan begins comedy tour as Fox talks drag on
|  
ESPN's Allen Iverson documentary holds few surprises
|  
Pop star Shakira prepares to build school in Haiti
|  
 News  
New Zealand house prices rise in March  
Top anti-racism judge shot dead in Moscow  
Nine dead after landslide derails Italian train  
Nine dead after Italian train derailment  
Sudan extends voting for two days after delays
|  
Afghan fury after US troops kill four civilians  
Bomb explodes outside MI5 headquarters in Northern Ireland
|  
Polish relatives seek to identify Russia crash victims  
Attacks in Kandahar; NATO fires on Afghan bus
|  
Moscow judge who sentenced neo-fascists shot dead
|  
Greece charges six over guerrilla attacks
|  
Sudanese opposition urge elections cancelled  
Nine dead as landslide derails Italian train
|  
Thai poll body says ruling party must be dissolved  
200,000 civilians flee Pakistan military offensive  
UBS reports 2.5 bln francs in quarterly pre-tax profit  
Greek debt plan boosts euro, most Asian shares  
Al-Qaeda would use nuclear bomb on US: Obama  
China's Geely Auto 2009 net profit up 35%  
China's foreign reserves hit new high  
Paramount offers movies on Seagate hard drives
|  
Obama to open landmark nuclear summit  
Best Buy to sell Barnes & Noble's Nook e-reader
|  
Bangladesh sentences 50 guards over 2009 mutiny  
Kyrgyzstan's deposed president gathers supporters  
Sharp to join 3D TV battle with advanced display
|  
Pressure mounts on Thai PM after election body call  
Global IT spending to rise
|  
Afghan official says NATO gunfire kills 4 on bus  
Australia refloats Barrier Reef oil spill ship  
Ship that leaked oil on Great Barrier Reef removed  
Australian in Bali prison applies for clemency  
Thai stocks sink after deadly Bangkok clashes  
Afghan official: 4 civilians killed by NATO troops  
Rusal reports $821 million profit  
China bank lending down 43 percent in 1st quarter  
China says forex reserves hit record $2.447 trln  
India's industrial output sees double-digit growth  
Sharp to launch 3D televisions by summer  
Iraq Urged to Lift Media Restrictions  
IATA chief urges Japan to be China travel gateway  
Romney Wins Presidential Straw Poll By A Hair  
Mandy Moore To Check In To Greys Anatomy Finale  
GM China: Sales by 2015 may exceed 3M units  
Motorcyclist Flees Police, Crashes Into Ambulance Crew That Treats Him  
Teen Birth Rates Down In U.S.  
Researchers Say Hispanics Live In Areas With Limited Ability To Screen For Colon Cancer  
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary  
Dozens Hurt In 7-Alarm Manhattan Fire  
President Obama Meets Kazak President Nazarbayev  
President Obama Meets Pakistani PM Gilani, Mentions His Trip Sans Secret Service  
British band Supergrass announces split
|  
Tenor Domingo speaks of cancer fear ahead of return
|  
Date Night ekes out disputed box office win
|  
Russell Crowe drops tights for Robin Hood
|  
DreamWorks rolls out Kung Fu Panda virtual world
|  
Taiwan's 'Susan Boyle' voted off talent show  
India hopes mud-pit wrestling can lead to gold  
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary  
Russell Crowe drops tights for "Robin Hood"  
DreamWorks rolls out "Kung Fu Panda" virtual world  
Hollywood gripped by baby fever  
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro  
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found  
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever  
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production  
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time  
AMD to Start Production of piledriver  
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs  
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia  
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air  
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch  
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent  
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up  
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform  
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis  
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets  
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights