New Kyrgyz Constitution Comes Into Force

Interim government head Roza Otunbaeva could be sworn in on July 3, according to election authorities.

Kyrgyzstan's new constitution has come into force after election authorities released the final results of a referendum on the charter last week, clearing the way for the inauguration of an interim president.

According to the results, 90.55 percent of voters backed the new constitution in the June 27 referendum, just 8.07 percent voted against.

Turnout was 72.24 percent.

Election commission head Akylbek Sariev has said the release of the final tally paves the way for interim leader Roza Otunbaeva to be sworn in as president on July 3.

"Roza Otunbaeva is to be registered as president of the Kyrgyz Republic and receive the presidential identification, the [presidential] badge, and the state flag of the president of the Kyrgyz Republic," Sariev said.

The new constitition was proposed by Kyrgyzstan's interim leaders who came into power after President Kurmanbek Bakiev was ousted following mass street protests in April.

The June 27 referendum took place two weeks after deadly clashes between ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks in the south of the country.

compiled from agency reports