"We hoped to be heard, but [President Kurmanbek Bakiyev], just like [former President Askar] Akayev, is living in a vacuum, he does not understand reality," lawmaker Melis Eshimkanov said, adding that the meeting only strengthened the opposition's determination to proceed with protests.
Opposition groups say they want the authorities to meet demands voiced at an April 8 rally in the capital, Bishkek, including some constitutional changes, the rule of law, reforms in law-enforcement agencies and a fight against corruption.
Protesters plan to get more than 10,000 people out onto Bishkek's central square, and also to organize peaceful rallies in regional centers on April 29. They have said that if their demands were not met, protesters will set up a tent city in the center of the capital, similar to the one that spearheaded the "orange revolution" in Ukraine in 2004.
Akayev was deposed in the "tulip revolution" in March 2005, following accusations of corruption and authoritarianism, and fled to Russia. But since then the country has been in turmoil, and at the end of March much of Bishkek shut down as anti-government protesters took to the streets in rallies the administration feared could spark another uprising.
In a bid to stave of the protests, top officials including the president, prime minister, parliamentary speaker, prosecutor general and the interior minister, started talks earlier Wednesday with opposition leaders.
After the talks, Bakiyev said he would not change the Constitution under opposition pressure.
"I repeat that a constitutional referendum will be held at the end of the year, and a group of parliamentary members will not force me to change the state structure, even if they rally every day," he said.
"If we launch a constitutional reform in two months, we will have to dissolve the parliament and hold new elections. The entire process will take a year, and when will we work for the good of our people?"
Bakiev dismissed the opposition's claims that the judiciary handed down politically motivated decisions, saying he did not interfere with the judicial system.
"I have nothing to do with judicial bodies. If there are any complaints against them, why address me?" he said.
Bakiyev also denied accusations of "a family business" and said his son Maxim was the only businessman in his family, and had started his business before Bakiyev was elected president.
He warned the opposition against what he called reckless steps.
"Be careful not to get people clashing with each other," he added.
Prime Minister Felix Kulov added a conciliatory note when he told opposition leaders: "I understand your worries and concerns because we do not react to some problems in time. Your criticism is constructive."
