KYRGYZSTAN: New Kyrgyz opposition leader calls for early presidential elections in the Central Asian state

The leader of the opposition movement and former prime minister protest against the government and calls for early presidential elections in Kyrgyzstan. A former Kyrgyz Prime Minister heading a new opposition movement called on Monday (March 5) for early presidential elections in the Central Asian state, and protested against the current government. Felix Kulov, who was sprung from jail to form a partnership with President Kurmanbek Bakiyev after violent protests in 2005 that ousted long-serving leader Askar Akayev, now accuses the government that he served in of corruption. The impoverished state bordering China is home to a U.S. and a Russian military airbase. It is not due to hold parliamentary or presidential elections until 2010. Kulov said he and his United Front for a Decent Future for Kyrgyzstan would use constitutional means to bring about early elections. "We are not calling for the resignation of the president in our statement; in the statement issued by the (opposition) United Front. What we are calling for is for early (Presidential) elections to be held. These are two different things," he said. He further said, they wanted to draw attention to the fact that two different constitutional amendments which have cast doubt on the legitimacy of the new constitution have been pushed through. Kulov, who many regarded as a political prisoner during his incarceration under Akayev's rule, said early elections were needed to confirm the legitimacy of the president and a constitutional reform in December. Having run on a joint ticket with Bakiyev in 2005 after Akayev was ousted, he served as prime minister until December when he resigned during a series of constitutional changes. Subsequently parliament voted against his re-appointment.

ITN Source | March 6, 2007

Tags:. .series. .political. .changes. .during. .against