(Adds colour, details, opposition quote) By Maria Golovnina BISHKEK, Nov 9 (Reuters) - A week-long opposition protest in Kyrgyzstan turned into a mass street party on Thursday after President Kurmanbek Bakiyev bowed to opponents and signed a new constitution that sharply reduces his power. The crisis had taken thousands of opposition protesters on to the streets of the capital Bishkek, threatening stability in the impoverished former Soviet state. Ending the deepest crisis in his Central Asian state since he came to power last year, Bakiyev agreed to adopt a new constitution that curbs his powers and cedes the authority to hire and fire the government to parliament. The constitution turns Kyrgyzstan into the first Central Asian state where parliament has powerful checks and balances on the president. Other countries in the region have powerful and autocratic presidents. It was not clear if parliament, which next convenes on Monday, would flex its new powers by sacking Prime Minister Felix Kulov. Opposition sources said they would leave the government line-up unchanged but as a Bakiyev ally without a strong power base in parliament, Kulov could be vulnerable. A solemn-looking Bakiyev signed the new constitution in front of reporters at the presidential building known locally as the White House. This is a symbolic venue since a violent mob stormed it in March 2005 in a coup that ousted Bakiyev's veteran predecessor, Askar Akayev. "There are no losers here," Bakiyev said after signing the document, hammered out by the opposition and his supporters late on Wednesday. Hailing it as a step towards democracy in his volatile nation, Bakiyev said: "The new constitution is the result of the level-headedness and wisdom of the Kyrgyz people." The opposition has accused Bakiyev, elected by a landslide in July last year on promises to introduce democracy, of backtracking on his commitment to press ahead with reform. POP TUNES, BALLOONS Protesters had camped out on Bishkek's central Ala Too square since the crisis erupted on Nov. 2. But on Thursday activists danced to pop tunes, waved opposition red flags and shouted "victory" and "democracy". Some had started dismantling tents and traditional Kyrgyz felt yurts. Some brought children holding colourful balloons. The White House remained heavily guarded after police used tear gas on Tuesday to break up a clash between protesters and a group of Bakiyev supporters. But soldiers looked more relaxed, with some lying on the grass smoking and some sleeping. The constitution transfers the right to nominate the prime minister to the party with the most votes in elections. It also removes the president's right to dissolve parliament. The United States and Russia both have military airbases in Kyrgyzstan. Though it has few energy resources of its own, Kyrgyzstan lies in a region rich in oil, gas and uranium where Beijing, Moscow and Washington are all jostling for influence. (Additional reporting by Olga Dzyubenko)
