- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Kyrgyz opposition urges constitution reforms, threatens protests

Subscribe
Opposition in the impoverished Central Asian state of Kyrgyzstan demanded on Saturday a drastic constitutional reform and parliament's dissolution, threatening mass protests if the demands are not met.
BISHKEK, November 29 (RIA Novosti) - Opposition in the impoverished Central Asian state of Kyrgyzstan demanded on Saturday a drastic constitutional reform and parliament's dissolution, threatening mass protests if the demands are not met.

Some 2,000 members of Public Parliament, a broad coalition of opposition parties and NGOs, issued a resolution after a meeting in the capital, Bishkek, setting the deadline for the authorities until March 2009.

The opposition "proposes the president take steps to create a new political system by March 2009," the resolution said. "Otherwise, we will seek President [Kurmanbek] Bakiyev's resignation by means of mass protests."

More radical opposition groups in the ex-Soviet republic earlier said they planned rallies in the capital in December.

Kyrgyz authorities have rejected opposition demands saying the constitution can only be amended via a referendum.

Kyrgyzstan, where the U.S. and Russia both have air bases, has been plagued by instability and anti-government protests since Bakiyev came to power in 2005 toppling his long-serving predecessor.

The opposition on Saturday accused the authorities of corruption, clampdown on the opposition and free speech, and of "intentionally steering the country toward a crisis to privatize major industrial enterprises."

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала