BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan — Several thousand people rallied in a southern Kyrgyzstan town that has been rocked in recent years by political and ethnic violence.
The protesters demanded the resignation of the government.
Demonstrators at Tuesday's rally in Jalal-Abad held signs protesting the government's failure to honor promises to issue low-interest loans to farmers and improve the economy.
Local residents said about 5,000 people attended the peaceful rally, which was addressed by several major opposition leaders.
Rowdy mass open-air political rallies are common in Kyrgyzstan as the weather begins improving.
Discontent over living conditions and corruption spiraled in 2010 into street violence that led to the overthrow of then-President Kurmanbek Bakiyev.
