Deposed leader of Kyrgyzstan defiant in exile, says he is still country’s president

Deposed Kyrgyz leader says he is still president

MINSK, Belarus — The ousted leader of Kyrgyzstan says from exile in Belarus that he is still president of his Central Asian country.

Kurmanbek Bakiyev was deposed in an April 7 uprising that left 85 people dead in the Kyrgyz capital and then fled last week to neighboring Kazakhstan. He arrived in the Belarusian capital earlier this week.

In his first comments from exile Bakiyev was defiant and said he has not resigned.

He told reporters Wednesday in Minsk that he is still “the legitimate president of Kyrgyzstan,” and described the interim government controlling Bishkek as “a gang of impostors.”

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (AP) — Hundreds of supporters of Kyrgyzstan’s interim government clashed Wednesday with followers of the deposed president, as authorities struggle to restore order two weeks after a bloody revolt in the Central Asian nation.

Witnesses told The Associated Press that scuffles broke out between provisional government supporters and supporters of ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiyev in Jalal-Abad’s central square. Jalal-Abad, in Kyrgyzstan’s south, is one of the few remaining towns where support for the toppled leader is still visible.

Bakiyev is being sheltered by Belarus. Kyrgyz officials plan to seek his extradition to answer for the deaths of at least 85 people during the uprising.

The shaky interim coalition, which is set to run the former Soviet country for six months, is struggling to restore stability. The efforts are being watched with concern by Russia and the United States, both of which have military bases there.

Belarus’ authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko said Tuesday that Bakiyev and his family are under his personal protection.

Bakiyev arrived in Belarus earlier this week after fleeing Kyrgyzstan initially for neighboring Kazakhstan in an internationally brokered arrangement.