Calm Morning?

Thinking-East has just published Elnura's accounts. Click here for her article, and here for supplementing pictures.

Also, I've written a letter to Spiegel Online about this interview with Central Asia 'expert' Alexander Rahr.

UPDATE BELOW

Elnura writes from Bishkek:

The unexpected revolution created chaos, but hopefully not a long one. This morning military and police, now under leadership of newly released Felix Kulov, came out to Bishkek streets to restore order.

It seems that it were mainly residents from Bishkek:

[T]here were crowds that many local people recognized as residents of Bishkek who were looting malls and smaller shops taking out goods starting from yogurt to furniture. Most of the protesters came from the rural areas and are known to have harsh discipline, therefore it is unlikely that many of them participated in the looting.

This is (or better was) the Beta Store, the biggest and most exclusive supermarket in Bishkek. Opposite the road is the DemirBank, the largest bank facility in Bishkek.

Now, the situation has calmed down, Elnura's report is confirmed by Akaevu.net:

The situation in Bishkek begins to be stabilized this Friday 25 March 2005. Police is back at almost in full strength working together with volunteers. Both police and volunteer forces wear on their arms red bandages. The police and volunteers operate together, coordinating their actions with the ROVD of Bishkek, directing their brigades to the necessary points. Brigades erect encompassments around the important buildings, in the case of the possible attack of marauders. However, according to the communication of the members of national guard, looting and hooliganism has stopped. Felix Kulov has apparently regained the upper hand of a situation that seemed out of control.

Posted by Ben at March 25, 2005 10:58 AM