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OSCE chief arrives in Kyrgyz capital for mediation
27/3/2005 23:24

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The OSCE General Secretary Jan Kubis enters the hall prior to his press conference in Bishkek. Jan Kubis arrived in Kyrgyzstan for talks with its new leadership Sunday, amid an intense struggle for power in parliament following the chaotic toppling of the Central Asian nation's Soviet-era regime. (Photo: AFP/China Daily) 

The head of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) arrived in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek Sunday to promote political dialogue amid an intense battle for power distribution following Thursday's sudden collapse of the old government.

OSCE Secretary-General Jan Kubis was expected to meet Kyrgyzstan's new leadership, including Kurmanbek Bakiyev, who was appointed by the former parliament as acting president and prime minister after President Askar Akayev fled the country Thursday.

Alojz Peterle, OSCE representative in Central Asia, urged all political forces in Kyrgyzstan to resolve the disputes peacefully.

"The OSCE wishes that the parties involved are able to use political dialogue in order to get a conclusion for the benefit of all the country," Peterle told the media in Bishkek.

Political infighting was heating up in the nation's legislature, which has found itself with two sets of parliament both claiming to be legitimate.

Earlier Sunday, the newly-elected parliament convened a formal session to discuss the legitimacy of the outgoing parliament, which was reinstalled by the Supreme Court Thursday after Akayev's flight.

The new lawmakers were elected in the Feb. 27 and March 13 polls and most of them were inaugurated on March 22 under the presidency of Akayev.

But the opposition claimed the polls were rigged and demanded an annulment. The vote dispute triggered wide-spread protests in the country and led to the ouster of the Akayev government.



 Xinhua