SOME 2,000 DEMONSTRATORS PROTESTED AGAINST STATE CORRUPTION IN THE CENTRAL ASIAN REPUBLIC OF KYRGYZSTAN SATURDAY, A KYRGYZ LAWMAKER TOLD INTERFAX NEWS AGENCY BY TELEPHONE, DPA REPORTED. THE DEMONSTRATION WAS A SIGNAL TO THE DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED LEADERSHIP TO CARRY OUT RADICAL REFORMS AND IMPROVE THE SITUATION IN THE COUNTRY, ACCORDING TO THE LAWMAKER, WHO TOOK PART IN THE DEMONSTRATION. THE DEMONSTRATORS CALLED FOR THE RESIGNATION OF CORRUPT OFFICIALS AND ADHERENCE TO THE LAW. THE IMPOVERISHED REPUBLIC HAS BEEN RULED FOR A YEAR BY KURMANBEK BAKIYEV, WHO CAME TO POWER AS INTERIM HEAD OF STATE IN A PEACEFUL COUP. BAKIYEV WAS THEN ELECTED PRESIDENT IN JULY LAST YEAR WITH 88.6 PER CENT OF THE VOTE. THE DEMONSTRATORS CALLED ON BAKIYEV TO COME AND SPEAK TO THEM, BUT THE PRESIDENT HAD NOT YET APPEARED.
