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Rally in support of jailed ex-speaker gathers pace in southern Kyrgyzstan

BISHKEK, December 02. /ITAR-TASS/. Supporters of the jailed ex-parliamentary speaker, Akhmatbek Keldibekov, continue to gather in central square of Osh, southern Kyrgyzstan, a witness told Itar-Tass by phone on Monday.

The number of protesters demanding Keldibekov’s release from prison increased to 5,000-6,000. “In the morning there were no more than 1,000 people,” the witness said. “Protesters have not been taking illegal actions, but warn they are ready to go to extremes, if Keldibekov is not freed within three hours.”

Osh mayor Melisbek Myrzakmatov was seen among protesters, he said.

During a news conference the former speaker’s supporters expressed readiness to seize several state and administrative buildings in Osh, if the authorities ignored their demands. Soon after Kyrgyzstan’s state national security committee issued an official warning to participants of the news conference.

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