Global General

Kyrgyz interim gov't says to hold election in Oct.

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-04-22 14:17

BISHKEK - The deputy prime minister of Kyrgyzstan's interim government said on Thursday that the country will hold parliamentary elections on October 10.

Omurbek Tekebayev announced the decision on national television, saying that the timetable had been approved by the government.

Tekebayev also said a referendum on a new constitution would be held on June 27.

Tekebayev said under the new constitution that would be presented to voters in the referendum, Kyrgyzstan would become a parliamentary republic and the power of the president would be reduced.

"In the new draft, the state and political system will be set up to prevent the concentration of power in one person's hands," Tekebayev said.

"The president will lose his immunity and his family will not be subsidized by the state. The head of state will live on his own salary."

The interim Kyrgyz government has accused ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and his allies of ordering the shooting of demonstrators in the early April uprising.

Bakiyev, now in Belarus, insisted Wednesday that he is still the president of his country. However, the Kyrgyz interim government fought back saying Bakiyev lied in his latest statement.