Officials in Kyrgyzstan has said that the country was in chaos on Wednesday after violent demonstrations left the government reeling, at least 47 people dead and hundreds injured.

The New York Times has reported that Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev fled Bishkek, the capital, on his airplane and opposition leaders declared they were forming their own government.

It was also reported online by the Times of London that Kyrgyzstan's Health Ministry said 47 people had died and more than 400 had been injured.

But, Omurbek Tekebaev, leader of the main opposition party, said more than 100 people had been killed.

According to the reports of BBC, scores had died but did not provide an exact toll.

Witnesses have said that Police fired bullets, tear gas and stun grenades into a crowd of thousands that gathered in front of the presidential offices.

Adding that as of Wednesday evening the base was operating normally, U. S officials said that the turmoil, which comes five years after the country's so-called Tulip Revolution brought Bakiyev to power, raised questions about the future of an important U. S. air base operating in Kyrgyzstan as part of the NATO mission in nearby Afghanistan.

In a speech to the nation, Tekebaev demanded Bakiyev and his government resign. Bakiyev offered no public comments Wednesday. In a telephone interview with The New York Times, an airport official said Bakiyev departed on the presidential plane.

He was monitoring the protest when riot police officers began firing on the crowd, Dmitri Kabak, director of a local human rights group, told the New York newspaper.

Kabak further added, "When people started marching toward the presidential office, snipers on the roof of the office started to open fire, with live bullets. I saw several people who were killed right there on the square." (With Inputs from Agencies)