"We knew what they were talking about," Baisalov said. "We knew that wave was going to hit us."
But Baisalov said he also knew the uprisings were criticized as being promoted by Western powers. Keenly aware of the American aid dollars in his own group's budget, he said he cut off personal contact with Bakiyev's group and others around March 17.
Kyrgyz troops in the southern city of Osh march during a parade celebrating the opposition's victory over the government of President Askar Akayev, who fled when protesters took power Thursday.
(Myktybek Sariyev -- AP)
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Each opposition group's thinking, however, ran along the same lines. The plan for Bishkek, according to opposition figures interviewed this week, was to slowly grind down Akayev, much as the movements in Ukraine and Georgia had done to their leaders.
On Wednesday night, as demonstrators arrived from outlying regions by bus and car, organizers gathered in the capital. "The rally was supposed to press President Akayev for negotiations," Bakiyev said.
The day started with a rally outside the clinic of an eccentric physician. When the marchers approached the White House, they were met by thugs wearing track suits and wielding clubs.
Blood flowed, and although there were no fatalities, the clash was a turning point. Instead of dispersing, the young protesters who had taken the brunt of the attack regrouped and marched back. By now, the crowd had swollen by several thousand, with bystanders joining the throng as it proceeded through the streets.
"The White House was taken by about 40 people," said Bakit Bakitaev, a government worker who watched the final assault. The protesters proceeded so fast that they never had time to agree on a color: The young men at the front donned yellow headbands; other marchers dressed in pink.
"The people followed like they were watching a soccer game," Bakitaev said.
Those wearing yellow headbands were beaten back twice by the 500 police and soldiers manning the iron fence around the executive office building. On the third attempt, the supporting crowd lurched forward as well, quickly overwhelming the guards.
"I am very much disappointed that we had a premature revolution," Baisalov said.
Questions about legitimacy loom. Bakiyev attended his first news conference Saturday flanked by officials from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, a 55-country body based in Vienna, which gave its blessing to the new government. The United States and Russia have also signaled support.
"Kyrgyzstan now is in a very complicated legal space," Bakiyev acknowledged. "The coalition ceased its operation yesterday. Now we have a government."
Citing the constitution, he said the old parliament would remain in power until its term expired April 15. At that point, power would shift to the new parliament elected under Akayev.
A new president will be elected June 26, Bakiyev said, again citing the constitution.
Meanwhile on the street, rumors flew of "a thousand horsemen" headed for Bishkek. It was, in fact, a column of several thousand counter-protesters marching toward the capital on foot from Akayev's home town. A day earlier, the deposed president had insisted he still held office.
"So we have two presidents, two governments, two parliaments," said Omurbek Tekabayev, a lawmaker who was reelected, and thus assured a seat in both legislatures. "The opposition really was not ready."
