Kyrgyzstan's interim government eyes parliamentarism

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(Free-Press-Release.com) May 21, 2010 -- Kyrgyzstan's interim government on Friday officially published a draft of the strife-torn country's new constitution, which calls for a parliamentary government.

The original political system, which allowed the president and his family to usurp power, went bankrupt in reputation and prompted interim authorities to turn to parliamentarism, said participants in the drafting process.

The participants also blamed the flawed governance for the violent revolt in early April that led to the ouster and exile of former President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and the establishment of the interim government.

The new constitution restricts presidential powers and expands those of the parliament instead, placing the legislature at the helm of the government and conferring executive power to the prime minister. It also forbids a president to serve consecutive terms.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Omurbek Tekebayev, who is in charge of the constitution reform, has lowered the turnout threshold for the June 27 referendum from 50 percent to 30 percent, citing the large percentage of voters who work overseas or have failed to register.

Since Bakiyev's ouster, about 100 people have been killed and more than 1,500 others injured in fighting between Bakiyev supporters and security forces loyal to the interim government and also between residents of different ethnicities.

In the latest flareup this week, two people were killed and 71 injured on Wednesday in the southern city of Jalalabad and the local governor was attacked on Thursday while trying to calm demonstrators. The interim government has declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew at the flash point.

In a bid to steer the country through the turmoil, the interim government has named its leader Roza Otunbayeva as interim president. She will serve until the last day of 2011 and is not entitled to run in the presidential elections scheduled in October next year. The appointment is also contingent on the upcoming referendum.

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Kyrgyzstan's interim leader named president until end of 2011

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BISHKEK, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyzstan's interim government on Wednesday declared a state of emergency in the troubled southern city of Jalalabad in an attempt to curb violent local clashes.

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BISHKEK, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyzstan's interim government said on Monday it was considering making a request for the extradition of ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiyev from Belarus to face trial back home.

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