Otunbayeva tours south; Osh mayor defiant

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BATKEN/OSH, Kyrgyzstan -- Kyrgyz President Roza Otunbayeva has begun visiting the violence-wracked south that will take her to Osh, where the worst fighting occurred, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported July 29. She began her trip in Batken Oblast.

Osh Mayor Melisbek Myrzakmatov, whom some observers accused of helping foment anti-Uzbek violence in June, told 24.kg July 29 that only the public can make him leave office. "Yes, I'm a nationalist," he added. "I love my nation and will act exclusively in its interests."

Otunbayeva’s trip comes as some ethnic Kyrgyz protest the planned deployment of 52 OSCE international police officers in the south. More such demonstrations took place July 29 in several cities, including Bishkek, Osh and Talas, RFE/RL reported. Ethnic riots in June in the south claimed hundreds of lives.

Former Prime Minister Feliks Kulov said July 28 he opposes the OSCE deployment, because the foreign policemen might be endangered, 24.kg reported.