国际英语新闻：Foiled "coup attempt" shakes Kyrgyzstan's fragile calm

BISHKEK, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyz authorities on Thursday arrested an opposition leader allegedly plotting a coup and repelled thousands of his supporters in a flare-up of violence that rocked once again the troubled Central Asian state.

The central figure in the fresh unrest, Urmat Baryktabasov, was detained along with 26 supporters, and a number of firearms and grenades were seized from the demonstrators, said interim President Roza Otunbayeva at a press conference.

"Today, he tried to destabilize the situation in Kyrgyzstan and seize power... All who attempt to destroy the peace of the citizens will be punished," Otunbayeva said.

Thursday's turmoil seemingly started when some 1,000 demonstrators marched across central Bishkek and rallied outside the parliament in support of Baryktabasov, a former presidential candidate and leader of the "Mekin Tuu" party.

They demanded the appointment of Baryktabasov as prime minister and an end to a criminal investigation against him. Baryktabasov has long been wanted by authorities on suspicion of attempting to topple the then government in 2005 during his presidential bid.

Baryktabasov returned to Kyrgyzstan earlier this week, five years after he was denied registration in the presidential race due to a nationality dispute and then fled into exile.

His supporters also lashed out at Otunbayeva's caretaker government, which came to power after a revolt ousted former President Kurmanbek Bakiyev in early April, and insisted that the nation is not ready for parliamentary elections in October.