BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan – Authorities raised the stakes yesterday in a standoff with opposition groups that have seized control of large parts of southern Kyrgyzstan, with riot police breaking up a protest in the capital and top officials warning they may use force to restore order elsewhere.

Hints of a potential crackdown came from two tough-talking new law enforcement officials appointed by President Akayev after he fired their predecessors over the unrest in the Central Asian nation of mainly Turkic speaking people.

Protesters angered over allegedly fraudulent parliamentary elections have seized government administration buildings in three of Kyrgyzstan’s seven regions and in smaller districts within two other regions.

Most are in the south, where opposition to Mr. Akayev historically has been strongest, but one is in Talas, in the north, where his base of support generally had been more firm.

Seizure of the buildings does not mean protesters have control of a region, but opposition forces clearly appeared to be in charge in Osh, the former Soviet republic’s second-largest city, and in the sizable town of Jalal-Abad.

“Our primary task is to restore constitutional order in all regions, but strictly in accordance with the constitution,” said new Interior Minister Keneshbek Dushebayev. “The law gives us every right to take action, including by using physical force, special means, and firearms.”

He spoke hours after riot police in the capital, Bishkek, broke up a small opposition rally, signaling government determination to keep protests from spreading north. About 200 police encircled protesters calling for Mr. Akayev’s ouster, scuffling with those who resisted and locking arms to force about 100 demonstrators out of the central square. Police detained 20-30 people, dragging some away.

“We will not allow any stormings, seizures, and takeovers in Bishkek,” Mr. Dushebayev said.

Political culture in Kyrgyzstan is clan-based, and Mr. Akayev has strong support in his native north. If the fractured opposition can carry mass protests north across the mountain range bisecting the country and toward Bishkek, tensions could explode.

Kyrgyzstan lacks the energy resources or pipeline routes of its neighbors that have drawn the interest of Russia, America, and China. But its status as a conduit for drugs and a home for Islamic extremists makes for volatility, and it seeks to balance American and Russian interests in the region by hosting military bases for both.

Officials have made broad accusations that “extremists” are behind the protests, but there have been no overt indications of Islamist sentiment or influence among the demonstrators.

The unrest follows protests in Georgia and Ukraine that have led to the ouster of entrenched governments and brought West-leaning leaders to power in the past 18 months.

But the push for change here already is much more violent than those peaceful uprisings. Opposition forces have wielded sticks, stones, and homemade gasoline bombs, and burned down a police headquarters in the south. Warnings by Mr. Akayev’s new lawmen added to fears of bloodshed.

“The tolerance is being scaled down,” Edil Baisalov, head of a prominent nongovernmental organization that monitored the balloting, told the Associated Press by cell phone from a police station where he said he was taken from the Bishkek rally.

Mr. Dushebayev emphasized that “we will never shoot law-abiding, peaceful citizens; women, children, and old people.” But he said opposition forces in the south had broken many laws, and vowed that in restoring order, “we are going to use the whole arsenal of legally available means.”

Mr. Akayev had vowed not to use force, although the new pro-government parliament asked him to consider emergency rule, and he could cite that as a reason for a crackdown. New Prosecutor General Murat Sutalinov said the authorities “are getting numerous calls from citizens demanding we take decisive steps.”

Today, opposition groups planned more protests. Prime Minister Nikolai Tanayev planned to visit Osh “to look for someone constructive to talk to,” Akayev spokesman Abdil Seghizbayev said. But he stressed there would be no talks with “criminal groups that are controlling the situation there.”

Activists have seized the headquarters of the Kadamjay district administration in the Batken region town of Pulgon. The opposition People’s Movement of Kyrgyzstan said offices also were occupied in the Kochkor district, and in two districts in the Osh and Jalal-Abad regions.

In Jalal-Abad, 40 police officers pledged allegiance to a regional opposition shadow government. About 1,000 people rallied outside the opposition-controlled regional government headquarters yesterday, shouting “Akayev, out!”

Mr. Akayev, 60, is prohibited from seeking another term. The opposition has accused him of manipulating the February 27 and March 13 elections to gain a compliant legislature that would amend the constitution to allow a new term – a charge he denies.

In power for 15 years, Mr. Akayev was long regarded as a reform-minded leader, but in recent years, he turned more authoritarian. In 2002, his reputation was tarnished after police killed six demonstrators protesting the arrest of an opposition lawmaker.