Out in public

In his home village of Teyit in southern Kyrgyzstan, President Kurmanbek Bakiyev on Monday made his first public appearance since being ousted last week in a wave of violent protests in the capital Bishkek.

Speaking to a crowd of thousands from the steps of the local mayor's office, Bakiyev insisted that he remained the country's legitimate president and accused the interim government of being "natural gangsters."

"I am the president, and no one has the right or the authority to make me leave my position. This is not a revolution, this is a seizure of power," he told the crowd of supporters.

Bakiyev said he had called on the United Nations to help restore peace to Bishkek.

He added, however, that any attempt to seize or kill him by the interim government would result in the "further spilling of blood."

"Let them try to seize me, let them try to kill me. I believe this will lead to such a great deal of bloodshed which no one will be able to justify," he told reporters after making his address.

Bakiyev hiding behind 'human shield'

The interim government has reiterated its demand for Bakiyev's resignation, accusing the president of attempting to foment civil war.

"We are preparing a special operation against Bakiyev," Almaz Atambayev, the first deputy leader of the interim government, told reporters.

"But he is hiding behind a human shield. We hope we can carry out his apprehension without the deaths of civilians," Atambayev added.

On Sunday, the new government said it would not use force against Bakiyev but pledged to arrest him and try him for the deaths that resulted from last week's protests.

At least 81 people were killed on April 7 when riot police and troops shot into crowds of anti-government protesters in Bishkek.

glb/AP/Reuters
Editor: Nancy Isenson