Kyrgyzstan in 'political deadlock'

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Opposition leaders in Kyrgyzstan say President Kurmanbek Bakiyev has pushed the country into a political deadlock.

At the weekend - and in a bid to ease tensions - President Bakiyev said he would present a new constitution to parliament on Monday.

But he did not arrive, and instead sent suggestions for several amendments.

Nearly half the country's MPs are boycotting parliament, as thousands of people continue protests in the capital Bishkek calling for a new constitution.

Mr Bakiyev's proposed changes, the opposition says, are not significant enough.

Thirty-one of 75 lawmakers are now said to have joined the opposition boycott of parliament - enough to prevent the required quorum for any vote.

"The president is deliberately walking into a crisis... he wants to dissolve parliament," opposition MP Azimbek Beknazarov told reporters. "He has deceived us."

Coup charges

Protests have been held in Bishkek's main square since Thursday - although numbers appear to have fallen from an estimated 15,000 or more that turned out on the first day.

Opposition MPs have set up headquarters in tents, and say they will not leave the streets until the president resigns.

TULIP REVOLUTION WILTS March 2005 - Former President Akayev ousted in popular protestJuly - Kurmanbek Bakiyev elected PresidentApril 2006 - Thousands protest for end to corruption and crimeNovember - Opposition calls for constitutional reform and curbing of presidential powers <a href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6108972.stm" class="">Voices from protest</a>

They accuse President Bakiyev of failing to fulfil his promise, when he came to power in 2005, of a new constitution that would give more presidential powers to parliament.

Several hundred protesters marched on the state television building to demand airtime for their leaders on Friday, while thousands more gathered in the square to hear a series of speeches.

Opposition leaders denied charges they were planning a coup, after Prime Minister Felix Kulov told parliament that security services had recorded them discussing seizing state buildings.