The overthrow of Kyrgyzstan's authoritarian president Askar Akayev raises serious questions about the stability of central Asia and the role of the three big powers in the region Russia, the US and China.

Few observers forecast that after 14 years Mr Akayev would be ousted in less than a week. The upheaval has left diplomats wondering whether other ex-Soviet central Asian republics might face similar challenges. While the region is remote from the world's power centres, it plays a big role as an energy supplier, is a major drug smuggling route, and its Muslim population has, in places, shown sympathy to Islamic fundamentalism.