Kyrgyzstan Protests Violence 40 Killed

Kyrgyzstan (Hollywood Backstage) - The small, mountainous Central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan, a vital conduit for supplies to U.S. forces in Afghanistan, plunged into chaos Wednesday as thousands of protesters ransacked government buildings and riot police fired on crowds, killing dozens of people.

The United States Wednesday deplored the political violence in Kyrgyzstan and urged dialogue between the government and opposition protestors. The State Department said it understood the Bishkek government of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev was still functioning despite reports the leadership had resigned.

The government in Kyrgyzstan is struggling to retain power as deadly clashes escalate between police and thousands of protesters. Protests appear to have overthrown the government of Kyrgyzstan, raising questions about the future of an important U.S. air base that supports the war in Afghanistan.

Deadly anti-government unrest rocked the Central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan.

Kyrgyzstan President Kurmanbek Bakiyev fled the capital of Bishkek after opposition protestors announced they were forming their own government, according to media reports Wednesday. More than 40 people reportedly have been killed in fighting between protestors and riot police, opposition leaders put the death toll at 100. Kyrgyzstan, a U.S. ally, is a crucial staging area for U.S. military operations in Afghanistan.