Posted on 04/29/2005 9:26:55 PM PDT by jb6
Supporters of losing candidates in last month’s parliamentary elections in the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan have occupied the country’s Supreme Court, demanding the resignation of all its judges, protesters said today.
About 200 people are occupying the court buildings in the capital Bishkek, with about 30 staying in the building around the clock, said Omurjan Amanov, one of the protesters.
He said no court staffers have been allowed to work since Friday and that police had sealed off all the rooms in the court to prevent theft of official documents.
Supreme Court chairman Kurmanbek Osmonov offered his resignation on Monday, and it is expected to be accepted by Parliament on Thursday.
He has been under pressure to step down over controversial court decisions that have contributed to public anger over a rigged parliamentary vote in February and March, which sparked an uprising against President Askar Akayev on March 24.
The new Kyrgyz leadership has said it found personal records proving Akayev was personally involved in vote-buying and electoral fraud in favour of loyal candidates.
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