THE NEW YORK TIMES: BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan — With Russia warning that his country was “on the verge of civil war,” the deposed president of Kyrgyzstan said that he would formally step down if there were guarantees of safety for him and his family. But, in a hardening of the lines, the country’s new leader said on Wednesday that he might face trial.
The fugitive president, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, was speaking after the interim government that ousted him after bloody riots last week stripped him of immunity and threatened to send special forces to arrest him.
With conditions in the country still fluid on Wednesday, the head of the new government, Rosa Otunbayeva, seemed to adopt a tougher posture toward Mr. Bakiyev, ruling out safe passage for family members wanted by the new government.
Mr. Bakiyev must either stand trial in Kyrgyzstan or go into exile alone, she said — leaving behind brothers and other relatives whom she has accused of ordering the police to fire on demonstrators and of corruption.
At a news conference, Ms. Otunbayeva said that if Mr. Bakiyev waited until security forces loyal to the new government detained him, he would certainly face trial, adding that his time may already have run out.
“He has already had his chance to leave,” she said.
As she spoke, about 100 people gathered outside the Ministry of Defense building, which serves as the seat of the new government, to demand that Mr. Bakiyev be returned to the capital to face justice. >>> Andrew E. Kramer and Alan Cowell | Wednesday, April 14, 2010
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