Kyrgyz Opposition Leader Predicts More Public Protests

BISHKEK -- Kyrgyz opposition leader Abdygany Erkebaev has said that 2009 will be a year of opposition-organized public protest against the government.

Erkebaev, a former parliament speaker, told RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service that opposition forces' attempted to stay away from public protest in favor of a more diplomatic approach, but this has not been effective.

Opposition leaders warned last month that if their demands were not met they would organize mass protests in February.