Kyrgyz President Bakiyev fails to give speech in stronghold South

Shortly after Bakiyev arrived at the square of his stronghold city in the south of the country, supporters of the interim government began hurling stones at Bakiyev's supporters forcing several hundred to retreat from the square.

The overthrown president's guards fired warning shots into the air, and placed Bakiyev back into his car and drove away. He is reportedly returning to his hometown of Jalal-Abad.

Bakiyev has refused to hand over his power to the interim government, which is headed by Roza Otunbayeva, unless he is guaranteed safety and amnesty for himself and his relatives. Otunbayeva has not ruled out criminal charges against Bakiyev for the bloody unrest in the country that left at least 80 dead and hundreds injured.

President Bakiyev fled the capital city of Bishkek at the height of the violence and has taken refuge in his home village in the south of the country.

The interim government on Wednesday suggested that a negotiated resolution to the standoff could be found, but refused to rule out criminal proceedings against the ousted president; Kazinform cites RIA Novosti.

See www.en.rian.ru