BISHKEK, June 23 (RIA Novosti) - The law-enforcement bodies of Kyrgyzstan have no information about preparations for protests in the capital Bishkek today, a duty police officer said. "We have the situation in the city under control and do not expect any disturbances," he said.
Today, the U.S. Embassy in Kyrgyzstan informed American citizens that disturbances were possible in the capital and urged them to stay inside. The British Embassy issued a similar warning.
The U.S. Embassy's press service told RIA Novosti that it had received the information from its own sources and not from the Interior Ministry of Kyrgyzstan.
The situation in Bishkek is currently calm. The central square in front of the government building has been reopened after it was closed to traffic a few days ago. However, extra police patrols, and also interior ministry troops have been placed along the perimeter of the building.
On June 17, about 2,000 supporters of businessman Urmat Baryktabasov tried to storm the building of the Kyrgyz government after the Central Electoral Committee of Kyrgyzstan denied him registration as a presidential candidate on grounds that he was a citizen of neighboring Kazakhstan. The police had to use batons and stun grenades to disperse the crowd, which pelted officers with stones
