ALMA-ATA, March 20 (Xinhuanet) -- At least four policemen were reported beaten to death Sunday in Kyrgyzstan during opposition protests against the country's recent parliamentary elections.

    Thousands of opposition supporters, angered at what they say rigged elections, stormed government buildings in the southern Kyrgyz town of Jalal-Abad, following protests Friday in nearby Osh.

    A police source in Kyrgyz capital Bishkek said that four policemen had been beaten to death in clashes that broke out afterpolice fired shots but failed to stop the demonstrations.

    The death toll could be as high as 10, the Interfax news agencyquoted police as saying. "For the moment the exact number of the dead is not known, but it could be as high as 10." But the Kyrgyz government officials denied the figure.

    Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev's supporters won a landslide victory in the parliament elections held on Feb. 27 with runoffs in many regions on March 13. The opposition refused to accept the results and accused the authorities of fraud in the election.

    The opposition rallied, blocked roads and occupied several government buildings, demanding Akayev's resignation. Akayev has blamed the opposition leaders for inciting a civil war.

    Akayev has served the maximum two terms allowed by the constitution and has pledged to step down before the presidential election scheduled for October. Enditem