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Opposition leader appointed as Kyrgyz president
25/3/2005 17:20

Kyrgyz opposition leader Kurmanbek Bakiyev said on Friday that he had been named acting president as well as prime minister, reports from Kyrgyz capital Bishkek said.
Bakiyev, who is deputy head of the People's Movement of Kyrgyzstan, said he was appointed as both acting president and prime minister by the deputies of the Central Asian country, which shares borders with China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
"Parliament today appointed me prime minister and gave me the functions of president," Bakiyev told crowds of supporters in the capital Bishkek.
"I now exercise the duties of prime minister and president," he said.
The opponents in this small Central Asian country started gathering after the Feb. 27 parliamentary election, alleging the poll was flawed. Rallies escalated after the March 13 run-offs, with opposition taking control of government buildings and airports in some southern regions and banks looted in demonstration-turned riots.
On Thursday, protesters broke the security line and stormed into the White House, the seat of the government.
There were confusing reports about the whereabouts of Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev.

 



 Xinhua