The police presence has been building in the city

Police in the capital Bishkek kicked protesters and dragged people away to break up the 200-strong crowd.

The activists were calling for charges against the opposition parliamentary deputy, Azimbek Beknazarov, to be dropped.

They were also demanding the cancellation of a deal to transfer disputed territory to neighbouring China - a treaty Mr Beknazarov had opposed - and for President Askar Akayev to resign.

Mr Beknazarov was among the crowd on Thursday. He is charged with abuse of power when he was a local prosecutor about five years ago, but his supporters say the charges are politically motivated.

Protesters detained

The politician was arrested in January, but released following violent protests in March in which five people were killed. The activists blame police actions for the violence and have called for the government to press charges.

The police presence in Bishkek has grown noticeably in recent days, and Thursday's protesters were immediately ringed by police, said Abdysapar Bayalinov of the Ar-Namys party, which has led the demonstrations.

He said protesters were dragged by hands and feet into police cans, and that some were kicked in the stomach.

Kyrgyz Interior Minister Temirbek Akmataliev said 40 people were detained and that police acted according to legal norms," the ITAR-Tass news agency reported.

President Akayev: Accused of muzzling opposition

Edik Kulov, the brother of jailed opposition leader Felix Kulov, said at least 94 people were detained, including journalists. They face fines of $15 or 15 days in jail.

On Thursday 3,500 people continued to blockade the country's main north-south road to show their support for Mr Beknazarov. The interior minister said the situation on the Bishkek-Osh road was "relatively calm."

President Akayev, hailed by Western governments in the early 1990s as a reformer, has increasingly cracked down on dissent in recent years. This year's protests have been the first major public display of discontent with his rule.

Mr Akayev had been scheduled to attend a parliament session Thursday on political unrest in the country, but cancelled at the last minute for what his office said were health reasons.