Kyrgyzstan's Acting Prime Minister Resigns

Jantoro Satybaldiev

Kyrgyzstan's acting Prime Minister Jantoro Satybaldiev has resigned as the head of the interim government.

His first deputy Joomart Otorbaev will replace Satybaldiev as acting prime minister until a new government is formed.

Satybaldiev asked forgiveness from Kyrgyzstan's people for his government's failure to fulfill "many strategic plans."

Satybaldiev -- who has served since September 2012 -- and his government were forced to resign after the withdrawal of the Ata-Meken party from the ruling coalition on March 19.

Ata-Meken leader Omurbek Tekebaev said Satybaldiev had lost the "moral right" to continue as prime minister after a crime boss was released from prison last year.

Satybaldiev was also blamed for not resolving the problems surrounding the foreign-run Kumtor gold mine, which the Kyrgyz government is seeking to gain a greater stake in.
Based on reporting by 24kg and Interfax