The Kyrgyz opposition held a rally under the motto \"For Democratic Reform\" in downtown Bishkek for several hours, before halting it due to heavy rain. The square right in front of the House of Government was cordoned off by police, armed with clubs, who allowed passage only to those working in the near vicinity of the government headquarters. Protesters, therefore, had to gather about 500 meters from the building, an Interfax correspondent reported from the scene. There were about 9,000 protesters at the rally as of 9:00 a.m. Moscow time. Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and Prime Minister Felix Kulov met with demonstrators in downtown Bishkek. Kulov, in particular, said, addressing the crowd, that the government would consider all their demands. Bakiyev said, speaking at the same rally, \"I am from the people myself, but I can\'t agree that nothing has been done in the country since the March 24 [2005] revolution.\" The protesters demanded constitutional and democratic reforms, that criminals not be allowed to infiltrate governmental institutions, a reshuffling of the top echelons of the government, and the dismissal of the presidential chief of staff, the secretary of state and the prosecutor general. After the speeches by the premier and the president, people started leaving the square to shelter from the heavy rain. (Interfax)