Kyrgyz Ruling Coalition Collapses

Kyrgyzstan Prime Minister Omurbek Babanov

ВISHKEK -- Kyrgyzstan's ruling coalition has collapsed after eight months in power.

The Ata-Meken (Fatherland) party announced on August 22 that it was leaving the coalition, a day after another coalition member, Ar-Namys (Dignity), announced its withdrawal.

The breakup came amid infighting between members of the coalition over Kyrgyzstan's weak economy and official corruption.

In a joint statement, deputies from Ata-Meken and Ar-Namys called on Prime Minister Omurbek Babanov to resign.

A coalition spokesman said all cabinet members must now resign and a new coalition must be formed. But Babanov's office said a ruling from the president was required.

The split leaves the two other coalition members -- Babanov's Respublika party and President Almazbek Atambaev's Social-Democratic Party -- without the majority needed to form a government.


With reporting by Reuters, dpa, and ITAR-TASS