Kyrgyz President Negotiates End To Demonstrations

Demonstrators have been rallying outside the parliament building in the capital Bishkek for the last five days. They say Prime Minister Feliks Kulov should be held responsible for the death of lawmaker Tynychbek Akmatbaev, who was killed in a hostage-taking incident during a prison riot last week.

Akmatbaev had gone to the prison on behalf of inmates who were rioting over poor living conditions.

The chief of Kyrgyzstan's prisons department, Ikmatulla Polotov, was also shot in the hostage-taking incident. He died of his wounds today in hospital.

Bakiev says a full investigation of the 20 October Moldavanovka prison events is being conducted and that it is too early to evaluate the actions of ministers.

In today's negotiations, protest leaders told Bakiev that they will suspend their rallies until the end of the investigation.

Kulov denies allegations that he was involved in Akmatbaev's slaying, and describes the accusations as political provocation.

(with Interfax/ITAR-TASS/AFP)