Kyrgyzstan: Exiled president tried 'in absentia'

Kyrgyzstan has put its deposed president on trial in his absence, with prosecutors seeking a long prison term for Kurmanbek Bakiyev on charges that he ordered troops to fire on demonstrators, killing 78 people. As the hearing began, family members of the victims held angry demonstrations nearby, vowing to seek revenge.

Mr Bakiyev, who is in self-imposed exile in Belarus, is being tried along with 27 other former officials for their alleged involvement in the deaths during April street protests that led to the fall of his government.