Kyrgyzstan plans state funerals for protesters; death toll rises

Kyrgyzstan's new government announced plans Saturday for a state funeral to honour the protesters who died in this week's move to topple the government of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, according to media reports.

The news came as the death toll from last week's riots rose to 79 with the deaths of three more people overnight, interim Health Minister Damira Niyasaliyeva told the Akipress news agency.

Officials said the situation was calming in the capital, Bishkek. Control points had been erected at the city's borders, where guards were confiscating weapons and bombs from those trying to enter the city. Officials say they hope this will reduce plundering and violence, DPA reported.

The most recent reports state that about 1,500 people were injured in the protests which started Tuesday in reaction to complaints of censorship and corruption against Bakiyev's government.

The state's attorney has accused Bakiyev's brother and two of the president's sons with responsibility for the deaths during the uprising.

Bakiyev remains in hiding in the south of Kyrgyzstan, though he has proposed negotiations about stepping down from power. Interim leader Rosa Otanbayeva has said talks are unnecessary and urged Bakiyev to simply relinquish claims to power.

Otanbayeva has announced plans to rewrite the country's constitution within six months and hold new parliamentary elections.