Photograph by Asel Kuttubaeva

Photograph by Asel Kuttubaeva.

Large and violent protests have erupted in Talas and Bishkek, reportedly due to anger toward fuel prices and the president himself.  Yesterday demonstrators in Talas briefly took the local governor hostage while another 500 surrounded the local police headquarters.  They have also attacked special forces police and are burning effigies of Bakiyev. neweurasia’s Kyrgyz division has stunning video, commentary (in English and in Kyrgyz) and photographs:

• here
• here
• here, including some from a blogger on the ground in Talas;

All of which has been cross-posted on Demotix.  Check out the LiveJournal of Elena Skochilo, neweurasia‘s former Kyrgyzstan country editor, for timelines.

The protests are being led by the opposition movement.  The government has reportedly been retaliating by arresting activists, journalists, and shutting down the web.   One activist, Totkoaim Umetaliyeva, vowed to Reuters,

The government is clearly trying to prevent further opposition rallies. But we will hold them anyway.

neweurasia‘s Kyrgyzstan division will continue to follow events as they unfold.