Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Ousted Kyrgyz President Takes Refuge in Belarus Kurmanbek Bakiyev and family under protection in Minsk VOA News 20 April 2010 Deposed Kyrgyz president, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, in the village of Teyit in the Jalal-Abad region in southern Kyrgyzstan, 11 Apr 2010 Photo: ÐÐ Deposed Kyrgyz president, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, in the village of Teyit in the Jalal-Abad region in southern Kyrgyzstan, 11 Apr 2010 Kyrgyzstan's ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiyev has taken refuge in Belarus. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Tuesday that Mr. Bakiyev and his family are being protected in the capital, Minsk. Mr. Bakiyev fled the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, on April 7 during violent anti-government protests that killed 84 people. He traveled to neighboring Kazakhstan last week, but left the Central Asian country on Monday. Kyrgyzstan has remained tense since an interim government led by the opposition took power. Security forces were on patrol Tuesday on the outskirts of Bishkek, a day after at least five people were killed in ethnic violence. Hundreds of Kyrgyz set fire to homes of ethnic Russian and Turkish residents in the village of Mayevka on Monday, in an effort to seize their land. The interim government vowed to quash any further unrest, as marauding crowds were spotted throughout the capital on Tuesday. Several hundred protesters also faced off against police in a tense standoff Tuesday in Mayevka.  Russian President Dmitri Medvedev said Tuesday the Kyrgyz interim government must take steps to create political stability, including holding elections. The Russian leader discussed the situation in Kyrgyzstan during talks with Uzbek President Islam Karimov in Moscow. President Karimov said the current developments in Kyrgyzstan are dangerous for all countries that border it. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which helped mediate Mr. Bakiyev's departure last week, urged Kyrgyzstan's interim leaders to restore public order and the rule of law in the country. The OSCE also called on the government to resolve social and economic problems faced by the Kyrgyz people. Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters. .