Kyrgyzstan's security forces have arrested former President Almazbek

Atambayev after a botched raid on his property overnight resulted in the death
of one officer.

Mr Atambayev reportedly surrendered and was taken to the capital, Bishkek.

It followed a standoff in which his supporters took six officers captive.

Current President Sooronbai Jeenbekov said Mr Atambayev, who was initially

wanted for questioning as a witness, had committed a "grave crime".

The former leader had repeatedly refused police summonses to testify as a witness
about alleged corruption and abuse of office.

Special forces officers attempted to raid his house late on Wednesday night, but his
supporters took up arms in his defence. The six soldiers they captured were later
released.

Shortly afterwards, gunfire and stun grenades were reported at the home in a
second raid on the property, on the outskirts of the capital.
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Mr Jeenbekov - Mr Atambayev's former ally and successor - said the ex-president

had "grossly flouted" the law by "putting up severe armed resistance" to police.

"Yesterday we were summoning him as a witness, now we will summon him over a
grave crime," he told a special parliamentary session on Thursday.

A police statement said Mr Atambayev - who ruled Kyrgyzstan from 2011 to 2017 -
"will be delivered to the relevant authorities for further investigative measures".

What's the latest?

Special forces used an armoured vehicle to break through the gates of the
compound in Koi Tash village outside the capital, and soldiers blocked roads leading
to Mr Atambayev's residence, local media reported.

Reports from local journalists at the scene said Mr Atambayev had surrendered to
officers. Two aides were thought to be with him.

Local news site 24.kg reports he was flown by helicopter to avoid supporters who
were blocking the roads.

Politician Irina Karamushkina, an ally of Mr Atambayev's, told AFP his supporters

were "ready to defend the former president to the end".
Image copyrightREUTERSImage captionKyrgyzstan President Soronbai Jeenbekov (left) was
the chosen successor of his former ally, Almazbek Atambayev (right)

The former president had planned a rally on Thursday, but cancelled it and called his
supporters back to defend his residence.

What happened overnight?

The raid began late on Wednesday. According to Kyrgyzstan's national security
committee (GKNB), special forces armed "only with rubber bullets" were undertaking
a "special operation to detain" the former president.

As the troops moved in, the GKNB said, Mr Atambayev's supporters fired back with
live ammunition.

But Mr Atambayev took responsibility for the shooting, saying only he had a gun.
Image copyrightAFPImage captionSupporters of Mr Atambayev were in celebratory mood
after driving special forces from his home

One officer was killed, while 80 people were injured and 53 hospitalised.

"A special forces officer was delivered [to hospital] in an extremely serious condition
with a gunshot wound. Despite resuscitation attempts, he died," a health ministry
statement said.
The head of the State Committee for National Security says at least 19 members of
the security forces were injured, with six in a serious condition, 24.kg reports.

As night fell, roads leading to the compound were barricaded by Mr Atambayev's

supporters while security forces regrouped nearby.
Image copyrightAFPImage captionSupporters of Almazbek Atambayev guard his home

Witness Mirbek Aitikeyev, who posted footage of the raid on Facebook, told AFP
news agency that some of those protecting Mr Atambayev had seized weapons from
the special forces, who "retreated under the onslaught of the crowd".

Eyes watering from tear gas

By Aibek Abdylaev, BBC Kyrgyz, Koi-Tash

Even without being able to get close to the ex-president's house, the journalists
behind the security cordons could smell the tear gas, our eyes occasionally watering.

Once the ex-president was arrested, police used stun grenades in an attempt to
disperse hundreds, if not close to a thousand, of Mr Atambayev's supporters in the
village of Koi-Tash.
Protesters had been burning tyres and throwing stones at the police as the convoy
with the arrested politician drove away. Security forces have brought vehicles into
the village to put out fires.

It is being reported that up to four security officers have suffered gunshot wounds
and a civilian was affected by a stun grenade.