Election ad sparks new violence in Kyrgyzstan

6 Oct, 2010 17:07 / Updated 14 years ago

New violence broke out in Kyrgyzstan just days before a parliamentary election.

Twenty people have reportedly stormed the office of the Ata-Jurt nationalist opposition political party in the capital city of Bishkek.

The protest was staged by relatives of those killed in the riots that broke out after the president of the republic was exiled earlier this year.

The protesters broke into the party's headquarters, burning equipment and campaign material.

Their rage was sparked by a recording, recently aired by local media, in which the party's leader said he intended to put the ousted president, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, back into power.

The party's spokesman, however, denied the allegations, saying the tape had been edited.

Ata-Jurt is ranked third in pre-election popularity polls.