Deposed president rallies supporters in his home village

(12 Apr 2010)
1. Wide pan right of rally
2. Deposed president of Kyrgyzstan, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, walks to small stage as supporters cheer
3. Mid of Bakiyev addressing rally
4. Close up of Bakiyev speaking into microphone
5. Cutaway of supporters
6. Wide pan right of supporters listening to Bakiyev speaking on stage
7. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Kurmanbek Bakiyev, Deposed president of Kyrgyzstan:
"In Bishkek, those who are looting and organising disturbances are trying to divide the country into north and south. This should not be allowed to happen."
8. Cutaway of rally
10. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Kurmanbek Bakiyev, Deposed president of Kyrgyzstan:
(Asked about the reports government troops plan to seize him)
"Well, let them try to seize me. Let them try to destroy me. This attempt will lead to so much blood no one will be able to justify." ++AUDIO AS INCOMING++
11. Wide of rally
STORYLINE:
Kyrgyzstan''s deposed president on Monday rallied supporters in his home village, testing his ability to mount resistance to the opposition forces that drove him out of the capital last week.
As about 500 people gathered in a muddy field in Kurmanbek Bakiyev''s native village of Teyit, the deputy head of the self-declared interim government said in the capital that an operation to arrest Bakiyev was being organised.
"Well, let them try to seize me. Let them try to destroy me. This attempt will lead to so much blood no one will be able to justify," Bakiyev told reporters who asked him about the statement by Almazbek Atambayev.
Atambayev did not give details about the arrest plans, but said "we do not want fresh bloodshed."
At least 81 people died in the capital last Wednesday when a confrontation between police and protesters exploded into gunfire and chaos.
Protesters stormed government buildings and Bakiyev fled to his native southern region.
He has refused to step down and the rally in Teyit brought an array of speakers who vowed their support and waved banners with slogans such as "Hands off the legitimate president."
There were no uniformed police in view at the rally, and the loyalty of the country''s security forces remains a significant question.
The stalemate has left Kyrgyzstan''s near-term stability in doubt. That worries the West because a United Sates air base in Kyrgyzstan is crucial in the military campaign against the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Atambayev, echoing previous statements by interim government leader Roza Otunbayeva, said the base''s status will be discussed with the United States.
Many Kyrgyz oppose the base.
Alleged corruption by members of the Bakiyev family, including enriching themselves through fuel contracts for the base, was one of the top issues that brought out protesters last week.
In taking power on Thursday, the interim leaders said they controlled four of Kyrgyzstan''s seven regions and by Saturday they claimed to have expanded their control throughout the country.
Kyrgyzstan''s society is strongly clan-based, but there are few signs that Bakiyev could muster any significant tribal support in the south to challenge the self-declared interim government.
Some analysts said that a hike in utility prices and massive corruption is what has set many southerners against Bakiyev.

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