Kanybek Imanaliev told RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service today that 26 deputies, who have been Tekebaev's supporters, met with Tekebaev on 25 February to discuss the issue.
"Our group of deputies, consisting of 26 people, has decided that parliament speaker Tekebaev should resign on his own application in accordance with the Labor Code in order to maintain the stable activity of the parliament," Imanaliev said. "Then Mr. Tekebaev thanked all of us and said that he will make such a statement at the parliament session" on 27 February.
Kubatbek Baibolov, one of the potential candidates for the speaker position, confirmed the information.
However, Tekebaev and his press service were not available for comment.
There were calls for Tekebaev to step down after an independent television channel on 7 February aired comments in which he harshly criticized President Kurmanbek Bakiev, calling him a "dog" and suggesting he should "hang himself from the first tree."
But lawmakers rejected Tekebaev's resignation on 20 February.
SUBSCRIBE For regular news and analysis on all five Central Asian countries by e-mail, subscribe to "RFE/RL Central Asia Report."
"Our group of deputies, consisting of 26 people, has decided that parliament speaker Tekebaev should resign on his own application in accordance with the Labor Code in order to maintain the stable activity of the parliament," Imanaliev said. "Then Mr. Tekebaev thanked all of us and said that he will make such a statement at the parliament session" on 27 February.
Kubatbek Baibolov, one of the potential candidates for the speaker position, confirmed the information.
However, Tekebaev and his press service were not available for comment.
There were calls for Tekebaev to step down after an independent television channel on 7 February aired comments in which he harshly criticized President Kurmanbek Bakiev, calling him a "dog" and suggesting he should "hang himself from the first tree."
But lawmakers rejected Tekebaev's resignation on 20 February.
RFE/RL Central Asia Report
RFE/RL Central Asia Report
SUBSCRIBE For regular news and analysis on all five Central Asian countries by e-mail, subscribe to "RFE/RL Central Asia Report."
