Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin held...

Dmitry Peskov said Otunbayeva had told Putin that her country needs economic assistance to deal with "the difficult situation" in the country, and that Putin said Russia is ready to offer humanitarian aid.

"It is important to note that the conversation was held with Otunbayeva in her capacity as the head of a national confidence government," Peskov said.

In 2009, Russia allocated a $2 billion soft loan to Kyrgyzstan and $150 million in financial assistance. The leaders of both countries denied suggestions that the loan was linked to Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev"s plans to close a U.S. military base located a short distance from the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek.

On Wednesday, Putin criticized Bakiyev"s policies, saying he had repeated mistakes made by his predecessor, Askar Akayev.

Kyrgyzstan was rocked by deadly protest riots on Wednesday in which at least 74 people were killed. Bakiyev is reported to have fled Bishkek for the south of the former Soviet

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