Turmoil in Kyrgyzstan

Violent antigovernment demonstrations in the Kyrgyz Republic on April 7 resulted in 85 people dead and hundreds wounded when police opened fire on protesters outside the presidential offices in Bishkek.

President Bakiyev fled and later resigned, and an opposition government took power. The interim government announced plans to hold a referendum in July on a new constitution that would limit centralized power. The situation remains unstable.