The unrest began early this month as the opposition protested alleged election breaches in the Feb. 27 parliamentary polls and the subsequent March 13 run-offs. The opposition has accused Akayev, who is prohibited from seeking another term, of having planned to use his dominance of parliament to change the law and allow a third term. The 60-year-old leader has denied this charge.

Looking backwards, Akayev was long regarded as the most progressive leader in ex-Soviet Central Asia. But he has recently shown increasing signs of cracking down. In 2002, he lost his reputation after police killed six protestants. His regime provoked increasing opposition, which burst out this Monday.

The biggest demonstration drew about 15,000 people to the southern city of Jalal-Abad, which some analysts have compared with peaceful revolutions in Georgia and Ukraine. In Osh, Kyrgyzstan’s second-largest city, about 1,000 protesters, chanting "Akayev go!", took control of the governor’s building. The opposition also was occupying government buildings in four other cities and towns.

The deputy regional police chief had joined the opposition and would be in charge of police under the region’s new government, Omurbek Tekebayev, an official of the opposition, said.

Akayev’s aide Abdil Seghizbayev said security forces would not act against the protesters, but talks would only be possible after order is restored.

Roza Otunbayeva, leader of one of the main opposition groups and a former foreign minister, ruled out any talks with Akayev, saying: "We have one aim only: to oust this government ... There is no need for talks anymore". She said that the security of Akayev and other government officials would be guaranteed by the opposition.

But another opposition leader, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, declared the possibility of talks. "The main thing right now is for President Akayev to show maturity and agree to dialogue with the opposition," he said.