Premier and interim President Bakiev (file photo)
Bishkek, 29 March 2005 (RFE/RL) -- The upper chamber of Kyrgyzstan's old parliament today followed the outgoing lower chamber in suspending its activities and giving way to the newly elected single-chamber parliament.
Muratbek Mukashev, the upper chamber's speaker, read a statement signed by 32 lawmakers from the 45-seat chamber, saying it would end its work "for the sake of stability and to avoid conflict situations."
Ishenbai Kadyrbekov, speaker of the outgoing lower chamber, said before his chamber disbanded yesterday that the decision was being made for the good of the country although many of its members believe the new parliament lost its legitimacy when the Supreme Court ruled recent parliamentary polls were fraudulent.
The new parliament yesterday followed the outgoing parliament in approving Kurmanbek Bakiev as prime minister. Bakiev is also serving as interim president due to the absence of ousted President Askar Akaev, who has fled the country to an unknown location.
(RFE/RL, AP)
For more background on the crisis in Kyrgyzstan, see RFE/RL's dedicated website Revolution In Kyrgyzstan
Ishenbai Kadyrbekov, speaker of the outgoing lower chamber, said before his chamber disbanded yesterday that the decision was being made for the good of the country although many of its members believe the new parliament lost its legitimacy when the Supreme Court ruled recent parliamentary polls were fraudulent.
The new parliament yesterday followed the outgoing parliament in approving Kurmanbek Bakiev as prime minister. Bakiev is also serving as interim president due to the absence of ousted President Askar Akaev, who has fled the country to an unknown location.
(RFE/RL, AP)
For more background on the crisis in Kyrgyzstan, see RFE/RL's dedicated website Revolution In Kyrgyzstan