Kyrgyz president says he's not leaving
Kyrgyzstan’s president Kurmanbek Bakiyev today told parliament he would delay the introduction of constitutional reforms demanded by the opposition, just as thousands of opposition protesters gathered in the capital of the ex-Soviet Central nation, Bishkek, to demand his resignation.
Bakiyev said the opposition should not “exert pressure” on him, and that the reforms should not be adopted in an “hour or two”.
He said he would submit his version of constitutional amendments to parliament next Monday and would initiate a national referendum if MPs fail to approve it within 10 days.
“I am not leaving,” he told his foes in parliament as about 3,000 opposition supporters gathered at a square in front of it.
The opposition has been urging Bakiyev to fulfil his election promises and conduct constitutional reforms curtailing presidential powers and giving parliament and the Cabinet broader authority.
Crowds of young men began gathering in central Bishkek early in the morning, most shops and markets were closed, and hundreds of police in riot gear deployed in the downtown.
