Thousands of protestors have stormed government buildings in southern Kyrgyzstan, leaving at least four policemen dead. Protests organised by the opposition have been growing against President Askar Akayev. He warned last week that any attempt to copy the so-called 'Orange Revolution' in fellow ex-Soviet state Ukraine could lead to civil war.

The Russian Interfax news agency quoted police as saying that up to 10 people had died in the violence, but that was denied by government officials. Opposition activists effectively seized control of the town of Jalalabad after protests in nearby Osh. People in the south of the country are mainly ethnic Uzbeks, who resent domination by the wealthier ethnic Kyrgyz in the north.

What has sparked this latest conflict is a dispute about parliamentary elections held in two rounds in February and earlier this month. The opposition was routed in the polls, which were later criticised by international observers as being flawed. The OSCE said it was concerned about vote buying, disqualification of opposition candidates and media manipulation. Protestors fear President Akayev will try to use his majority in parliament to change the law and stand for a third term in elections later this year.

PHOTO CAPTION

Video grab shows a group of protesters marching past a police station they set afire in southern Kyrgyz town of Jalal Abad, March 20, 2005. (Reuters)