Kyrghyzstan to remove monument to Lenin from central square

Kyrghyzstan is beginning to dismantle a monument to the leader of the world's proletariat, Vladimir Lenin, which stands in the central square of Bishkek, the capital of this Central Asian republic.

Aiming to change symbols decorating the central square, authorities ordered to remove the monument, reported the republic's cabinet of ministers.

The many metres long monument will be placed in front of the parliament building 200 metres north of the square.

The monument appeared in the square 20 years ago. In 2002, the Legislative Assembly of the Kyrghyz parliament passed a law declaring the statue a monument of history and architecture.

Communists have voiced a strong protest against the decision.