Bulgaria has urged its citizens not to travel to Kyrgyzstan, given the political instability there which has seen opposition forces claim to have overthrown the government, dissolved parliament and forced the president to flee the capital city, Bishkek. At least 40 people have died in the clashes.
 
The Foreign Ministry in Sofia said on April 8 2010 that Bulgaria had no diplomatic representation in Kyrgyzstan and anyone in need should contact the German embassy in Bishkek.
 
On April 8, the BBC quoted Kyrgyzstan opposition leader Roza Otunbayeva, a former foreign minister, as saying that an interim government was fully in control.
 
The previous day, the government of Kyrgyzstan declared a state of emergency after clashes involving thousands of protesters in the former Soviet republic. Kyrgyz opposition leaders were demanding  that president Kurmanbek Bakiyev step down.
 
Witnesses say the deaths occurred when protesters clashed with riot police outside Bakiyev's office on the main square in Bishkek, the Voice of America said.
 
One woman protester, who did not identify herself, said riot police used tear gas and flash grenades to disperse the crowds.
 
She says there were 300 to 400 men, and it is unclear whether they were officers or simple soldiers, some riot police, others dressed in different uniforms, looking quite threatening. She says the police have been trained to threaten ordinary citizens.
 
The demonstrators gathered near Bakiyev's office demanding the president step down after five years in office. The opposition says Bakiyev, who came to power in a people's revolt in 2005, has not tackled rampant corruption. They also want him to fire many of his relatives, who hold senior governmental positions.
 
According to opposition supporters, one of their leaders, Temir Sariyev, was arrested when he arrived in the country, on a flight from Moscow. Supporters say other opposition leaders have been arrested as well. 
 
The demonstrations follow protests on April 6 in two provincial towns in Kyrgyzstan. In Talas, protesters stormed government buildings and held a regional governor hostage for several hours. In Naryn, witnesses say at least 1000 opponents took over the local government building, forcing the governor to flee.
 
The US embassy in Kyrgyzstan issued a statement saying that it was deeply concerned by the unrest and asked that all parties engage in talks to resolve the dispute peacefully.
 
Meanwhile, the Russian government was urging Kyrgyzstan to use the democratic process to settle all political, economic and social disagreements.
 
In a statement, European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton expressed "deep concern" about the situation in Kyrgyzstan.
 
"The arrest of leading personalities from the opposition, including former prime minister Almazbek Atambayev, the former speaker of the parliament Omurbek Tekebaev, Isa Omurkulov and Temir Saryiev, as well as the attempts to restrain the freedom of expression of the population and to limit the media as events unfold raise very serious concern," Ashton said.
 
She called on all sides to show restraint and resume immediately the dialogue between the government and the opposition forces, in view of finding a peaceful solution.
 
"Any follow up of these dramatic events must respect the constitution of Kyrgyzstan and the due process of law, in particular the right for defence of all arrested persons," Ashton said.
 
At this crucial stage, Kyrgyzstan must stay faithful to its democratic commitment, which has always been strongly supported by the EU, she said.