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'At least 142 arrested' in Kyrgyzstan protests
Kyrgyzstan's opposition said at least 142 demonstrators were arrested on Wednesday at protests in and around Bishkek, the capital of the volatile Central Asian country.
An opposition spokesman said that 80 people were arrested at a march from a Bishkek automobile market to the presidential palace, while 42 people were arrested at a separate march on the palace from a livestock market.
In addition, 20 opposition supporters were arrested in the village of Besh-Kungei outside Bishek, said the spokesman, Ulan Manayev.
The protesters had organized various protests in and around the capital in a bid to thwart a police crackdown.
They had hoped to march on the presidential palace to protest alleged fraud in last week's presidential election, which ended in a landslide victory by incumbent Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev.
Meanwhile the opposition said other protests were taking place throughout the country: "They are also arresting our people in the regions," Manayev said.