Opposition legislators Azimbek Beknazarov and Alevtina Pronenko announced at a 25 November press conference in Bishkek that they will join the People\'s Patriotic Movement\'s petition drive to remove Kyrgyz President Askar Akaev from office if rights activist Tursunbek Akun is not found, RFE/RL\'s Kyrgyz Service reported. Demonstrations continued in support of Akun, who has not been seen since 16 November, including a protest in the Aksy Raion that drew 2,000 people. Meanwhile, the Bishkek office of Freedom House announced in a 26 November press release that it is beginning an independent investigation into Akun\'s disappearance, RFE/RL\'s Kyrgyz Service reported. Stuart Kahn, program director for Freedom House\'s human rights defender support project in Kyrgyzstan, said, \"We will concentrate on those aspects of the case which have not been fully clarified, and we have officially appealed to the National Security Service and the Interior Ministry with an offer of cooperation and a request for access to information.\" (RFE/RL)