10/04/2010 11:48
Kyrgyzstan buries victims of clashes in coffins draped in flags
About 3,000 people gathered Saturday on the edge of the Kyrgyz capital at a mass funeral to commemorate at least 78 people who died in deadly street clashes and riots of April 7, during which government troops opened fire on demonstrators outside the presidential building.
"Those who died on April 7 are the heroes of Kyrgyzstan," interim leader of the country Roza Otunbayeva said.
"It was our duty to establish justice. Those who are being buried here today are all our children, the children of Kyrgyzstan," she said.
Mourners carried portraits of the victims and coffins, draped in the red-and-yellow Kyrgyz national flag.