Police used tear gas and stun grenades late Thursday against protesters gathered in front of the government building in the Kyrgyz capital. Protesters have been rallying in central Bishkek for nine days demanding that a new Constitution reducing presidential powers be adopted and early elections called.
"At 6:00 a.m. local time, all the members of the United Front who do not hold immunity were summoned for questioning in a probe into the organization of public disturbances in Bishkek," Murat Sutalinov said.
A party spokesman said earlier Friday that police had searched the offices of the opposition United Front and suspended the publication of a major opposition newspaper, the Agym, seizing all issues that covered last night's events in the capital.
The Kyrgyz Health Ministry said earlier in the day that six protesters and two policemen had been hospitalized with injuries sustained during the public disturbances in Bishkek.
According to police reports, a total of 35 people, including the alleged instigators of the clash with police and the ensuing looting, were arrested in the capital.
Opposition leaders denied responsibility for the events that took place on the central square in the capital, saying the crowd had refused to obey their orders.
Felix Kulov, a former Prime Minister and presidential ally and current leader of the radical opposition, laid the blame on Kyrgyz authorities for the consequences of dispersing the protesters and accused "the provocateurs, who stayed at the government building," and started the disorder.
The liberal opposition movement For Reforms said it had decided to suspend rallies for now.
"The police acted inadequately, cruelly and cynically with the protestors, which is why we are suspending rallies," said Kubatbek Baibolov, a movement leader and MP.
Another MP, Temir Sariyev said the disturbances were staged by the authorities themselves. "It was a special scenario of the authorities," he said.
They refused to comment on their further relations with the United Front, which also participated in the rally.
"They initially stuck to more radical demands," Baibolov said.
Omurbek Tekebayav, also a movement activist, said the alliance with the United Front was only a temporary measure.
