Kyrgyz leader says Western democracy 'unsuitable'

'Consultative democracy', involving dialogues with influential social groups, more in keeping with country's traditions, says President Bakiyev.

BISHKEK // Kyrgyzstan's president told his people today that Western-style democracy has run its course in the ex-Soviet Central Asian country, prompting fears of a further decline in political freedoms. President Kurmanbek Bakiyev told a national congress that democracy based on elections and individual human rights may no longer be suitable for Kyrgyzstan. He said "consultative democracy", envisaging dialogues with influential social groups, would be more in keeping with his country's traditions.

Western countries view continued stability as essential in Kyrgyzstan, which hosts a US air base serving as a supply and transit point for operations in Afghanistan. Mr Bakiyev was propelled to power by a popular uprising in 2005, but government critics say that since then he has gradually snuffed out virtually all semblance of opposition. Public dissatisfaction with Mr Bakiyev's government is running high in Kyrgyzstan amid recent sharp increases in heating and electricity tariffs and alleged oppression of government opponents.

Mr Bakiyev also said it was necessary to review the concept of individual human rights, which he said led to selfishness and a decline in public morality. "In Kyrgyz society, which based on community life and responsibility, it seems that it is not easy to become accustomed to a Western system of human rights," he said. Kyrgyzstan was labelled "not free" by the watchdog group Freedom House in January.

Near the venue where Mr Bakiyev was speaking, police detained about 20 opposition party activists prior to a protest rally. The leader of the opposition Ak-Shumkar party, Temir Sariyev, said the detention of his supporters was a gross violation of the constitution. "The authorities are afraid to hear the truth and learn what truly concerns normal people," Mr Sariyev said. Mr Bakiyev's remarks about the need to revise democratic standards come against a backdrop of worsening conditions for the independent media. Several media outlets that cover Kyrgyzstan seem to have fallen victim to a coordinated media blackout over the past two weeks, including a handful of prominent Central Asia-focused news sites, which have been inaccessible to Kyrgyz internet users since March 10.

The US government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Kyrgyz service has also been off the air across most of the country for two weeks. Most Kyrgyz people rely on state-controlled broadcasters as their main source of news, but those stations have failed to cover a series of protests against rising costs for heating and electricity. * AP