NOVO POKROVKA: Kyrgyz police Friday fired in the air to disperse 2,000 anti-government protestors rallying at a roadblock outside Bishkek to support a renegade businessman.

Hundreds of members of the security forces were repeatedly firing in the air to disperse the protestors at the checkpoint 15 kilometres (nine miles) outside the Kyrgyz capital.

Amid chaotic scenes, the protestors were starting to move back as more police reinforcements arrived, an AFP correspondent said.

These protestors and a similar number outside the Kyrgyz parliament had been rallying in support of supporters of businessman and political leader Urmat Baryktobasov who recently returned to the country.

BDST: 1828 HRS, August 05, 2010