Reuters AlertNet Lite - Kyrgyzstan rivals strike deal on constitution fight

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Kyrgyzstan rivals strike deal on constitution fight

07 Nov 2006 16:59:34 GMT
Source: Reuters

BISHKEK, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Opposition and pro-government lawmakers in Kyrgyzstan said on Tuesday they had reached a compromise deal to defuse a constitutional standoff in the Central Asian republic.

The two sides said after talks in parliament that they had agreed on a new draft of the constitution that would significantly reduce President Kurmanbek Bakiyev's powers. The full parliament is to vote on the draft on Wednesday.

"This is a political decision. Tomorrow the process of passing a new constitution will begin," said speaker of parliament Marat Sultanov.

One opposition leader said an anti-government protest in the capital would be called off in the light of a deal. Protesters have been rallying for six days demanding Bakiyev's resignation.

"I have been speaking in the square with our members of parliament. They are convincing our supporters that we have reached agreement and they should go home quietly," said Kanybek Imanaliyev.

But a Reuters reporter at the protest said several hundred demonstrators were still there. Edil Baisalov, another opposition leader, said the rally would go on until a new constitution is approved in parliament.

Opposition members of parliament unilaterally backed a new constitution early on Tuesday but they had not secured the support of enough lawmakers to approve it in parliament.

It was not immediately clear if Bakiyev would recognise the new constitution that emerges from the compromise deal. But if if is approved by two thirds of parliament it will have legal force.

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Last updated:Tue Nov 7 17:01:22 2006