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| Kyrgyz president agrees changes | Kyrgyz president agrees changes |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev has signed a new constitution that limits his powers and give more authority to legislators. | Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev has signed a new constitution that limits his powers and give more authority to legislators. |
| The document, approved by parliament on Wednesday, is an effort to end mounting protests in the capital Bishkek. | The document, approved by parliament on Wednesday, is an effort to end mounting protests in the capital Bishkek. |
| The opposition had accused Mr Bakiyev of delaying tactics and failing to keep promises made when he came to power in last year's so-called Tulip revolution. | The opposition had accused Mr Bakiyev of delaying tactics and failing to keep promises made when he came to power in last year's so-called Tulip revolution. |
| They said he should quit if he failed to agree to the new constitution. | They said he should quit if he failed to agree to the new constitution. |
| Mr Bakiyev signed the new document at a ceremony watched by journalists. | Mr Bakiyev signed the new document at a ceremony watched by journalists. |
| "The new constitution of the Kyrgyz republic... is the result of the agreement between the different political forces and one more step toward democracy in our country," he said. | "The new constitution of the Kyrgyz republic... is the result of the agreement between the different political forces and one more step toward democracy in our country," he said. |
| 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 | |
| Under the changes, which come into immediate effect, parliament not the president will form the government. | |
| The president will have limited powers to dissolve the legislature. | |
| "This is our victory, this is a step toward peace," opposition leader Roza Otunbayeva told demonstrators after parliament passed the constitution. | |
| "We can avoid civil war, civil confrontation." | |
| The document was approved by parliament late on Wednesday night. | |
| Afterwards, demonstrators celebrated by waving flags and sparklers, having spent a week camped out in the centre of Bishkek to call for change. |