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Kyrgyz leader signs new charter Kyrgyztan curbs president power
(about 2 hours later)
The president of Kyrgyzstan has signed a new draft constitution which will cut his powers drastically and give more authority to parliament. The parliament in the central Asian Republic of Kyrgyzstan has adopted a new constitution curbing presidential power and boosting that of legislators.
The opposition felt Kurmanbek Bakiyev had failed to deliver on reforms he promised when he came to power in the "Tulip Revolution" in March last year. The parliament session follows a week of protests in the capital, Bishkek.
The new charter could resolve Kyrgyzstan's political deadlock. Cheers and applause filled the parliamentary chamber as the majority of the MPs passed the new constitution. It still needs to be signed by President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, but legislators say that is now a mere formality.
Demonstrators who had been protesting for a week in the capital, Bishkek, celebrated when they heard the news. For a year-and-a-half President Bakiyev has delayed this process.
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 onTULIP 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
The scene of protest in the centre of Bishkek has just turned into a massive scene of celebration. But last week the opposition brought thousands of supporters to the streets, set up tents in the main square and announced that they would not leave until President Bakiyev agreed to the new constitution.
There are thousands of opposition supporters here and it has just been announced that President Bakiyev has agreed to the new draft of the constitution that will seriously curb his power and give much more legitimacy to the parliament. They said this was his main promise when he ousted his predecessor in 2005.
For about a week during the protest President Bakiyev has refused to agree to these changes. The pressure on Mr Bakiyev increased as the opposition managed to secure the support of two-thirds of Kyrgyzstan's legislators and, after a day of intense negotiations on Wednesday, Mr Bakiyev agreed to the changes.
But there has been unprecedented pressure on him and now the parliament is about to convene and with the go-ahead from the President they will vote on the new constitution. This is an unprecedented event in the region where political change is so often violent.
Those who are still celebrating in the streets of Bishkek say they hope that this victory will open a door to many more changes and reforms.