KYRGYZSTAN: Kyrgyz president sacks prime minister ahead of election

Kyrgyz president sacks prime minister ahead of December 16 parliamentary polls. Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev sacked his prime minister on Wednesday (November 28) in a move condemned by the opposition as an attempt to tighten his grasp on power ahead of a snap parliamentary election. Prime Minister Almazbek Atambayev, an opposition leader, joined Bakiyev's team in March at the height of political turmoil in the Central Asian state as a bridge between the president and the country's fierce opposition movement. His supporters said the surprise sacking was part of Bakiyev's manoeuvring to keep control ahead of the December 16 snap parliamentary vote. 51- year old Atambayev spearheaded a wave of mass anti-Bakiyev protests in 2006 calling on the Kyrgyz leader to resign. He later switched sides to help Bakiyev's government, but remained loyal to the opposition movement, his supporters say. On Wednesday, Bakiyev chaired a government meeting at which Atambayev handed in his resignation. "The fact that Almazbek Atambaevich (Atambayev) is ending his work [as a prime minister] is understandable. I remember that when he came to the office he said that he wants to help accomplish two goals, one is to complete the constitutional reform and the second one to ensure the stable functioning of the economy. Today we see that both tasks are fulfilled and Almazbek Atambaevich played a great role in it," Bakiyev said at the opening of the government meeting. He awarded Atambayev a state award and expressed hope that he will return to politics. Atambayev, in his turn, thanked the president for his support. "I am grateful to the President Kurmanbek Salievich Bakiyev for the support he always offered to me in the most difficult times and in the most difficult situations. The president has always supported me", Atambayev said. Later a spokesman for Bakiyev, said the Kyrgyz leader, and Atambayev parted on a good note and that the president awarded him with a special medal for his hard work. The president's spokesman added that Atambayev offered to resign himself because he had received an alternative job offer. The last parliamentary election, in early 2005, triggered violent protests that toppled Kyrgyzstan's long-serving leader Askar Akayev and brought Bakiyev and his team to power. Ever since, a parliament packed with Akayev-era deputies has been at the centre of the political instability in the country. Although Kyrgyzstan appeared calm ahead of the election, Russia and Western nations are watching closely for any signs of fresh instability that could spill over into neighbouring nations in the strategically important region. Twelve parties, including the Social-Democratic party, have registered for the election. Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous, landlocked country that borders China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. It hosts a U.S. and a Russian military airbase. Kyrgyzstan's government technically resigned last month in line with a new constitution adopted in an October 21 referendum. Parliament is due to propose a new government line-up or confirm the current one after the election. First Vice Premier Iskenderbek Aidaraliyev would step in as acting prime minister, local media reported.

ITN Source | November 30, 2007

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