Kyrgyzstan's parliament has set June the 26th as the date for elections to choose a new president.

After two days of violence and the ouster of President Askar Akayev, for now, a semblance of calm has returned to the capital Bishkek.

In Satuday's emergency session, two thirds of the upper chamber approved the date of the presidential elections on June 26.

Kurmanbek Bakiev, Kyrgyz Acting President says the lawmakers also decided the upper parliament would continue to perform its duties in the interim.

"The election would be held whether or not President Askar Akayev signed his resignation letter. Our parliament, our Congress of the people's representatives, approved the date of the presidential elections in Kyrgyzstan, which will take place on the 26th of June this year."

Bakiev says that any elections should be democratic and in the interests of developing Kyrgyzstan.

He also says he will stand as a candidate.

There have been disputes among politicians over what constitutes a legitimate parliament, with two groups competing for the mandate.

The whereabouts of President Askar Akayev - who disappeared on Thursday after protesters stormed the presidential and government headquarters calling for his resignation - are unknown.

But Bakiyev says he has information suggesting that Akayev is in Russia.

The Kremlin, the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Kyrgyz Embassy all declined to comment.

Akayev's departure made Kyrgyzstan the third former Soviet republic in the past 18 months - after Georgia and Ukraine - to see long-entrenched governments widely accused of corruption fall amid mass protests.