Civil unrest engulfed the politically troubled central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan Wednesday, with the government declaring a state of emergency and street fighting resulting in more than 20 deaths, the Interfax news agency reported.

At least 21 people died and more than 180 people were wounded in fighting between demonstrators and police, Russia's Interfax news agency reported, citing Kyrgyz media.

Interfax said Kabar, the Kyrgyz news agency, reported that the building of the National Security Service in Bishkek, the capital, had been seized and that detainees had been released from its pretrial jail. It also said the building housing the Office of the Prosecutor General burned down.

Eyewitnesses also said that opposition supporters occupied the second floor of the parliament building.

The country has experienced political tensions for years, and the United States has a military base there that serves as a critical supply link to Afghanistan.

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Earlier, human rights activist Toktaim Umetaliyeva had told Interfax 10 people at an opposition rally in Bishkek had been shot and killed by police dispersing demonstrators near a government building.

Using riot gear, stun grenades and dogs, police detained protesters and hauled them away in buses.

Quoting eyewitnesses, Interfax reported that police managed to push opposition supporters away from the square outside a Kyrgyz government building in Bishkek. Some protesters stopped buses in attempts to block central streets.

Interfax is an independent Russian news agency. Attempts to reach Kyrgyz government officials for comment have not been successful.

The fighting erupted amid political unrest between opposition forces and the government in the cities of Bishkek, Talas and Naryn. Russian state media reported that the Bishkek unrest was triggered by clashes that took place in Talas where some opposition leaders were arrested.

Protesters want detained opposition leaders to be released, and Interfax is reporting that opposition supporters have seized control of Naryn, Talas and others towns, such as Tokmok, Karakol and Cholpanata.

Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev sent a decree to parliament for the imposition of a curfew as demonstrators clashed with police in Bishkek.

Kabar reported the curfew was imposed in Bishkek and three other provinces for a month. Street traffic in Bishkek will be limited between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. and people need to carry passports or other identification with them.

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Meanwhile, Bishkek's international airport will be closed from 8 p.m. Wednesday (10 a.m. ET) to 8 a.m. Thursday (10 p.m. ET Wednesday), Interfax reported, quoting an airport source.

Interfax is reporting that broadcasting by the Kyrgyz state television channel resumed after it had been suspended.

The channel had stopped the broadcasts after opposition activists seized the television center earlier on Wednesday. Broadcasts are now showing opposition activists delivering short speeches lasting two to three minutes.

Two Kyrgyz opposition figures -- Temir Saryiev and Isa Omurkulov -- who had been detained by local special services, were released and headed off to meet with government officials, including Prime Minister Daniyar Usenov, Interfax said.

Azimbek Beknazarov, an opposition leader who one was prosecutor general, said during a rally in Naryn that "seizing power in the region is not our main objective. Rather, our prime goal is to change power in the country."

Russia, meanwhile, is calling on Kyrgyz authorities and the opposition to settle all disputes without force and with a democratic process. It also stepped up security at its air base in Kant.

"On the assumption of our interests to secure political stability in a country that is friendly to ours, we believe it is important that all issues in the given situation be resolved within the legal framework. At the same time we would like to strongly appeal to the opposing forces to refrain from the use of force to avoid bloodshed in any case," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday that he is "shocked" by the reports of violence and urged all sides to show restraint, engage in dialogue and promote calm.

The secretary-general also expressed his concern Tuesday over reports that demonstrators in Kyrgyzstan had seized a government building in Talas. They had been protesting the high costs of fuel and electricity.

"While freedom of assembly is an essential element of any democratic society, the rule of law must be respected," said Ban, who urged dialogue to resolve disputes.

Ban -- who visited Kyrgyzstan on Saturday during a trip to central Asia -- urged the government to protect free speech and press freedom.

There have been reports of restrictions on the freedom of expression and the press in the country, the United Nations said, including the recent closure of an opposition newspaper and other media outlets.

In the U.S. State Department's 2009 human rights report about Kyrgyzstan, it cites independent election observers as saying "the July 23 presidential election failed to meet many of the country's international commitments."

It "was marred by significant obstacles for opposition parties, intimidation, voting irregularities, and the use of government resources to benefit specific political interests."

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