Riot police broke up an opposition protest in Kyrgyzstan's capital on Wednesday, scuffling with demonstrators who met in a square in the center of the capital amid weeks of pressure on President Askar Akayev to step down. About 200 police with helmets, shields and clubs encircled groups of protesters and also formed a line, locking elbows and pushing demonstrators out of the square, using megaphones to demand that the approximately 100 protesters disperse. Police appeared to detain about 20 protesters, dragging some away.