Belated news wrap - the long version

Miss a few days and it seems like you'll never catch up... Even so, one has to try, so here goes - a round up of (mainly) Central Asian news from June 2 to June 6. So, thematically by country:

Kyrgyzstan:

• The Washington Post reports on the lack of a real choice in the forthcoming presidential elections, arguing that it does not bode well for prospects of real change.
• The Collective Security Organisation is apparently not planning to deploy a base in southern Kyrgyzstan, reports RIA Novosti.
• Meanwhile there's conflicting reports that China may deploy troops to Kyrygzstan, with Mosnews reporting there are plans, and Interfax reporting that there aren't (the link has mysteriously disappeared...).
• Just to join in, Russia is also apparently contemplating upping its military presence in Kyrgyzstan, reports UPI, with Eurasianet and Eurasia Daily Monitor adding to the reports.
• Kyrgyz Security Council Secretary Miroslav Niyazov has also been quoted as saying that Kyrgyzstan does not need foreign bases to be deployed on its territory.
• Acting President Kurmanbek Bakiev has highlighted the continuing problem of corruption in the republic, stating that combating corruption and market reforms are the top two priorities of the new government.
• Eurasia Daily Monitor has an article about Bakiev's government gaining international credibility and support, as well as criticism (unsurprisingly) from the previous regime, the leader of which, ex-president Akaev, is currently launching various legal cases.
• The interrim government is also hiring lawyers, this time against Akaev, in an effort to track down his assets, reports ITAR-TASS. IWPR also carries a report on the legal wrangles between the interim government and the diposed president.
• ITAR-TASS also has a report on the storming of the Supreme Court in Bishkek last week, which fortunately was free from casualities.
• The New York Times remains optimistic that Kyrgyzstan can become Central Asia's first real democracy, evoking a slight sense of deja vu considering the republic's title of 'Central Asia's Island of Democracy' in the early 1990s.
• Meanwhile businessmen in Bishkek are picketing government buildings, protesting about the damage to their businesses caused by looting on the night of March 24, when Akaev was ousted, and the lack of assistance from the government. There are also continuing protests outside the Supreme Court, with around 80 supporters of candidates who lost in the parliamentary elections picketing the building, reports Kyrgyz-Info.
• A warrant has been issued for the arrest of ex-Prime Minister Nikolai Tanaev, reports Kyrgyz-Info.
• The Khaleej Times reports that unemployment and emigration are both increasing in Kyrygzstan.
• Somewhat predictably, the commission investigating the riots that occured on March 24 has laid the blame squarely on Askar Akaev and the over-concentration of power in his hands.
• There appears to be differing interpretations of the seizure of the Supreme Court, reports the journal Turkish Weekly.
• All except one of the presidential candidates has now passed the state language test, reports Kabar News Agency.

Uzbekistan:

• Opposition activists have been arrested in Uzbekistan in a government crack-down, reports ABC News.
• Reuters has a report on the connection between poverty and unrest in southern Uzbekistan - a fact that has been relatively and woefully overlooked.
• Meanwhile, returning to more familiar themes, Mosnews reports that Chechen terrorists have been linked to events in Andijan, with Russia apparently having evidence of their involvement.
• George Soros has apparently alleged that the advice to open fire on demonstrators in Andijan came from Vladimir Putin, according to the Russian newspaper Kommersant, reports Kyrgyz-Info.

Turkmenistan:

• Turkmenistan is marking Carpet Day today, reports RIA Novosti.

Kazakhstan:

• There will be celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the Baikonur cosmodrome this coming Thursday, reports RIA Novosti, with the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, expected to attend as well as the Kazakh President, Nursultan Nazarbaev. Kazinform reports that the cosmodrome is "a significant object of trust and friendship" between Kazakhstan and Russia.
• Fear of revolutionary unrest unsurprisingly appears to have spread to the Kazakh government as well, with the government refusing to register youth groups.

Elsewhere:

• The Turkish online paper Zaman has an interesting commentary on the Kyrgyz revolution and events in Andijan, suggesting things aren't as positive as they've been portrayed in the Western media.
• UNESCO has a report on Silk Road Radio, which is using a radio soap opera to address contemporary issues in Central Asia.
• Radio Free Europe has a report on Kyrgyz migrants in the Czech Republic.
• Ever ready with a supportive comment, China's foreign minister has stated that recent events in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan are domestic matters during a press conference in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
• Ukraine beat Kazakhstan 2-0 in Group 2 of the World Cup qualifying groups on Saturday, reports Sportinglife.com. Russia also beat Latvia 2-0.
• The Guardian has an article entitled "At Home With the Putins" in the G2 section today.

That's it, over and out for now...