22:11, 9 November 2004

Protesters demand president's resignation

Today relatives of seven young men killed in Karachaevo-Cherkessia occupied the ground floor of the republican Government House and entered the private office of the president of Karachaevo-Cherkessia by force. They made a demand to meet with President Mustafa Batdyev, but he refused to meet with the protesters and left the building using a back entrance.

The people are inclined to go on an indefinite hunger strike demanding that the republican leadership should be dismissed.

Mustafa Batdyev's representatives report on 500-700 meeting participants. However sources in special services and security agencies as well as deputies of the national assembly say there are 5-7 thousand protesters, as of now. And people keep on coming to the square where the Government House stands and joining the meeting.

Source: Caucasian Knot