Dozens dead in Kyrgyz protests

BISHKEK - Kyrgyz troops opened fire on anti-government protesters on Wednesday outside the offices where President Kurmanbek Bakiyev declared a state of emergency and was sheltering from clashes that have killed dozens of people. One opposition leader claimed about 100 had died.

A group of at least 10 government soldiers were shooting with automatic weapons from government headquarters toward demonstrators, a Reuters cameraman said. Riot police used tear-gas and flash grenades as they battled with more than 5,000 demonstrators.

But a group of protesters, waving red-and-yellow Kyrgyz flags, arrived in the main square on an armored personnel carrier seized from the military.