Kyrgyzstan certifies election results as protests continue News
Kyrgyzstan certifies election results as protests continue

[JURIST] Kyrgyzstan election officials certified parliamentary election results Tuesday, despite ongoing fierce protests and international criticism. The election commission published results for 69 of 75 parliamentary seats up for election in February, with President Askar Akayev's supporters overwhelmingly beating opposition candidates. Protests in the south have turned violent, with opposition forces taking over several cities, forcing Akayev to agree to consider negotiations and order an investigation [JURIST report] into fraud allegations. International observers, including UN Secretary-Genearl Kofi Annan [UN News Centre report] and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe [OSCE news release], have called for a dialogue between the two sides. The OSCE has more on events in Kyrgyzstan. Reuters has more.

11:15 AM ET – Kyrgyzstan President Askar Akayev has accused opposition forces of attempting a coup during protests over the parliamentary election results. In a statement to reporters, Akayev said the opposition forces were being directed and funded from abroad. AFP has more.