Annan welcomes plans for dialogue in Kyrgyzstan, deplores violence

With demonstrators in south Kyrgyzstan still protesting last month's election results in the Central Asian country, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today deplored violence and welcomed President Askar Akayev's proposal to begin a dialogue.

"The Secretary-General is very concerned at the recent escalation of serious incidents in southern Kyrgyzstan, where protestors have clashed with police and seized Government offices in the towns of Osh and Jalal-Abad," Mr. Annan's spokesman said in a statement.

"The Secretary-General is opposed to the use of violence and intimidation to resolve electoral and political disputes and calls on all parties to apply restraint."

In that context, Mr. Annan welcomed President Akayev's offer to begin dialogue and the positive response of the opposition, the statement said.