Kyrgyzstan state of emergency declared
Kyrgyzstan's slide into turmoil this week saw a state of emergency being declared in its capital Friday, and a failed assassination attempt on its former president.
President Sooronbai Jeenbekov has ordered the military to end days of unrest as supporters of rival opposition groups fought on the streets.
A Reuters witness said they heard gunshots and saw demonstrators throw rocks and bottles at each other.
Kyrgyz leaders say the state of emergency would include tight security restrictions and a curfew that will last until October 21.
Earlier the president said he was ready to resign once a new cabinet was appointed.
President Jeenbekov spoke out earlier in the week:
"I am holding personal talks with various political parties. Dear political leaders, as the President, I am prepared to do everything in my power to find a way out of this political dead end."
Meanwhile, a former President Almazbek Atambayev reportedly survived an assassination attempt Friday.
Russia's RIA News Agency said his car was shot at.
He had been at a rally in Bishkek earlier in the day.
Kyrgyzstan has seen a power vacuum since Sunday's election was denounced as fraudulent by opposition parties.
But the opposition isn't unified. The groups are arguing among themselves about seizing government buildings and forcing the cancellation of Sunday's results.
Russia has described the situation in Kyrgyzstan, which borders China and hosts a Russian military base, as "chaos."
