Kyrgyzstan's ousted Leader Admits Defeat

Kyrgyzstan's ousted president says he is willing to resign if his security is guaranteed.

Kurmanbek Bakiyev, who fled the capital amid bloody protests last week, made the statement hours after holding a rally with about 5,000 supporters that seemed aimed at gauging his ability to resist the self-declared provisional government.

In his home village of Teyit, he said at a news conference that "I will go into retirement if security is guaranteed for me and my relatives."

There was no immediate response from the interim authorities in Bishkek, who earlier Tuesday said Bakiyev would be arrested if he did not return to the capital.

Bakiyev fled the capital, Bishkek, on Wednesday after a protest rally against corruption, rising utility bills and deteriorating human rights exploded into police gunfire and chaos that left at least 79 people dead and sparked protesters to storm government buildings. He was believed to be in his home Jalal-Abad region on Saturday.