http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/03/20/kyrgyzstan.riots.ap/index.html

10,000 riot in Kyrgyzstan
Sunday, March 20, 2005 Posted: 9:48 AM EST (1448 GMT)

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (AP) -- At least 10,000 pro-democracy protesters stormed a police station and occupied several state buildings in Kyrgyzstan on Sunday, a government spokesman said, in the biggest demonstration since allegedly fraudulent elections last month.

The government said it was ready to negotiate with the protesters who have demanded President Askar Akayev's resignation.

"We hope there will be no further violence," presidential aide Abdil Seghizbayev said.

Opposition leader Kurmanbek Bakiyev said talks would only be possible if Akayev himself sits down at the negotiating table.

"All other lower level negotiations will be just a waste of time," he said.

Police fled to the roof of their station, firing shots into the air to deter the stone-throwing protesters in the southern city of Jalal-Abad, regional government spokesman Orazaly Karasartov said.