Thousands mourn victims of uprising

Thousands of grieving, angry mourners flooded the main square in the capital of Kyrgyzstan yesterday to honour victims of the country's revolt – with many blaming the absent president for ordering security forces to fire on those protesting against his government.

By The Newsroom

Published 9th Apr 2010, 21:30 BST

Updated 9th Apr 2010, 21:30 BST

Flights resumed at the US Manas airbase yesterday after being halted during the uprising. The base is a key support centre for the international military campaign against the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Covering their eyes and folding their hands in prayer, families and friends sobbed for the lives that were lost in the sprawling Ala-Too Square in Bishkek, where protesters were shot dead at an opposition rally as some stormed the main government building.

President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, who fled the capital to seek support in his clan's southern power base, was often a focus of their anger.

At least 76 people died in the violence and more than 1,400 were injured, the health ministry reported yesterday, including 67 people hurt on Thursday night.

Afghanistan Taliban