Moscow/ Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan - Several thousand people gathered in a nationwide protest Friday of Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev ahead of elections in July.

"Our goal is for honest and transparent elections, and as a result to elect a man who will have the trust of his people," opposition leader Temur Sariev told crowds of over 1,000 in Bishkek, news agency Interfax reported.

Moscow/Bishkek  -

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan/Moscow - At least 65 people are believed dead in the crash of an Itek Air Boeing 737 passenger liner shortly after takeoff from Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek, the Kyrgyz authorities said early Monday.

The ill-fated airliner, bound for Tehran, was completely consumed by fire, according to the Civil Defence Ministry.

Tokon Mamitov, an advisor to Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev, announced the revised death toll, the Russian news agency Itar-Tass reported.