Supporters of Kyrgyzstan's ousted president are preparing to provoke a new round of unrest in the Central Asian state, the interim government's deputy head Azimbek Beknazarov said on Tuesday.

Kyrgyzstan's interim government led by Roza Otunbayeva took power on April 7 amid violent protests in which more than 80 people died. President Kurmanbek Bakiyev fled the country and resigned.

Since then, Kyrgyzstan has seen two waves of riots between supporters of the deposed leader and backers of the interim government, in which a total of seven people were killed and more than 90 were injured.

"We are waiting for the third wave. According to our information, a group of bribe-takers and supporters of Bakiyev are trying to provoke interethnic clashes," said Beknazarov, who oversees law enforcement agencies in the interim government.

He said "certain politicians" were trying to ignite interethnic clashes between Kyrgyz and Uzbeks in the south of the country. "We know who is behind this, but to preserve stability we will give them time to think again," Beknazarov said.

He suggested, however, that the opposition would try to sabotage the June 27 referendum on the adoption of a new constitution.

"They will take active steps so that the referendum does not take place," Beknazarov said.

The new constitution is set to change Kyrgyzstan from a presidential to a parliamentary republic, reducing the power of the president.

BISHKEK, May 18 (RIA Novosti)