"Erkin Esinaliyev, Deputy Chief of the Osh Regional Internal Affairs Directorate, and Ermek Kochorov, Deputy Chief of the Osh City Police Force, swore allegiance to the people several minutes ago," Irina Gordiyenko of the Moscow-based Novaya Gazeta reported from the central square of Osh.

"Senior officers of the Osh regional secret services are addressing the opposition rally. Police commanders of the second echelon who sided up with the opposition left the rally to carry out their duties," Gordiyenko said.

Alisher Saipov and Gordiyenko report that several thousands of residents of the nearby Dzhalalabad region of Kyrgyzstan joined the rally about 30 minutes ago. The protesters currently in the square number approximately 15,000 people. There are lots of foreign correspondents in the crowd.