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Kyrgyz political crisis deepens Kyrgyz opposition in 'power grab'
(about 1 hour later)
Kyrgyzstan's government has rejected moves by the opposition to rewrite the constitution. Kyrgyzstan's government has rejected moves by the opposition to rewrite the constitution, calling it an "open attempt at seizing power".
A government statement accused opposition MPs of "an open attempt at seizing power", after they held an emergency session of parliament. The statement came after opposition MPs held an emergency session of parliament to pass a constitution curbing some of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev's powers.
The opposition wants to curb some of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev's powers and has led five days of protests. President Bakiyev warned he could dissolve parliament if a political solution to the crisis is not found.
President Bakiyev warned that he could dissolve parliament if a political solution could not be found. Mass protests in the capital Bishkek have now entered a sixth day.
"I have not set myself the goal of dissolving parliament," he told a news conference. Thousands of opposition supporters are calling on the president to resign, accusing him of failing to introduce the democratic reforms he pledged when he was elected in March 2005.
"But I have such a constitutional right and of course if contradictions between the legislature and the executive continues what will I have left to do? I cannot watch such an orgy."
Ongoing protestsOngoing protests
Opposition MPs sat in emergency session overnight to sign a new constitution, which hands some presidential powers to parliament. Opposition MPs called an emergency session overnight and signed a new draft constitution, which hands some presidential powers to parliament.
On Monday, they accused the president of pushing the country into a political deadlock after he failed to arrive at parliament, as promised, to present a new constitution. They said 38 of parliament's 75 deputies signed the document, enough for a simple majority.
President Bakiyev is under pressure to introduce reforms If contradictions between the legislature and the executive continues what will I have left to do [except dissolve parliament] President Kurmanbek Bakiyev
Instead, President Bakiyev sent suggestions for several amendments - which were rejected by the opposition. But it was not clear if the vote would make the document legal, as Kyrgyz law requires any changes to the constitution to have a two-thirds majority.
But it was unclear whether the emergency session had the two-thirds of votes needed to make the document legitimate, because of a boycott by pro-government MPs. Constitutional Court Chairwoman Cholpon Bayekova told the Associated Press news agency that a smaller number of MPs could adopt the law as the situation was "extraordinary".
The government in a statement called the meeting "nothing other than an open attempt at seizing power through anti-constitutional means".The government in a statement called the meeting "nothing other than an open attempt at seizing power through anti-constitutional means".
Meanwhile protests outside government buildings in central Bishkek have entered their sixth day. Political deadlock
Numbers were reported to have dwindled overnight, but the opposition said it would step up its action later on Tuesday. The opposition's move came after President Bakiyev failed to arrive at parliament on Monday, as promised, to present a new constitution.
Protesters are calling for President Kurmanbek Bakiyev himself to resign, saying he has failed to introduce the reforms he pledged following his election in 2005. Instead, he sent suggestions for several amendments - which were rejected by the opposition.
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 Unequal returns People's views one year on
They accused him of pushing the country into a political deadlock.
President Bakiyev warned that he could dissolve parliament if the crisis continues.
"I have not set myself the goal of dissolving parliament," he told a news conference.
"But I have such a constitutional right and of course if contradictions between the legislature and the executive continues what will I have left to do? I cannot watch such an orgy."
US base
Mr Bakiyev sacked his Interior Minister Osmonali Guronov on Monday and replaced him with Omurbek Suvanaliyevin who has the respect of the opposition, in an apparent bid to appease the protesters.
But the appointment was dismissed by the opposition as a tactical move by the president to buy him more time.
Thousands continue to gather outside government buildings and in the central square in Bishkek to keep up their pressure on the president.
Hundreds of supporters of the president have also taken to the streets, holding banners saying "Let the president work", but the demonstration appears to be peaceful, a Reuters news agency reporter at the scene says.
Kurmanbek Bakiyev came to power in March 2005 after helping to lead the so-called Tulip Revolution that drove the long-time president Askar Akayev from power.
Mr Bakiyev initially said he favoured reducing the powers of the president and transferring them to the legislature.
But most of his former allies have since turned against him, accusing him of failing to tackle corruption and create a government based on democratic principles.
Mr Bakiyev has urged patience, saying reforms should not be adopted in an "hour or two". But the opposition says his time has run out.