SOMEWHERE, In Asia - Authorities say at least five people have been killed in riots in Kyrgyzstan, igniting fears among American students that the troubled country might start ending up on spelling tests and geography quizzes.
Witnesses in Osh, which is much easier to spell, reported hearing gunfire late Thursday. Gangs of young men armed with sticks attacking businesses and setting cars on fire have appeared on local Kyrgyzstan media outlets.
"Yeah, that sounds wicked cool," said Dustin Fieber, 14. "But if I can't even spell it, how the f**k am I supposed to pronounce Kyrjeejiz... Kryjeekiz... ijeestan... see what I mean?"
U.S. students had been enjoying an uneasy calm since a mass revolt in April led to the overthrow of then-President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, whose name was almost impossible to spell.
Quelling uprisings in Osh will prove a decisive test of the provisional government's ability to control Kyrgyzstan and bring peace of mind to American students.
