Pro-Reform Demonstrations Continue In Kyrgyzstan

The protesters are demanding early presidential elections and constitutional reforms. One of their slogans is "Reforms Without [President Kurmanbek] Bakiev."

Feliks Kulov, a former prime minister and one of the leaders of the bloc, met with the hunger strikers today.

Supporters of the bloc held smaller rallies in other regions of the country.

Meawhile, Bakiev, in an interview today with the Russian news agency RIA Novosti, said the protests are a sign of democracy in Kyrgyzstan.

Bakiev said that police won't be called out against demonstrators at a planned protest rally next week, but that authorities won't allow anyone to provoke the crowds into causing disorder.