The opposition in the impoverished Central Asian republic is demanding constitutional amendments that would delegate some presidential powers to parliament and make the country a parliamentary republic, but President Kurmanbek Bakiyev opposes the demands.
"I declare illegal all actions of parliament aimed at usurping power," Bakiyev said after 45 opposition deputies in the 75-member parliament decided to form a Constituent Assembly following a boycott of Monday's session by 20 pro-presidential deputies during which a new draft Constitution was to be discussed.
The president's refusal to submit the document to parliament Thursday led to five days of protests and the setting up of a tent camp in front of parliament in the capital, Bishkek. The number of protesters reached 7,000 Monday when Bakiyev submitted his own draft Constitution proposing enhanced presidential powers.
Bakiyev, whose 20-month rule has been marred by economic difficulties, high-profile murders, prison riots and disputes over the control of lucrative businesses, called on the population Tuesday to remain calm, saying the authorities are fully capable of keeping the situation under control.
"There is no reason to panic. Nobody will be allowed to split our nation," he said. He urged immediate negotiations, including with the opposition, on a new document to end the crisis.
Early Tuesday, Kyrgyz opposition parliamentarians formed a Constituent Assembly and began putting their signatures under the constitutional amendments previously rejected by the president.
"There is no legal procedure for adopting a Constitution. We parliamentarians are the legitimate representatives of the people, and we have formed a Constituent Assembly to adopt the new law of the country," Isa Omurkulov, an opposition parliamentary member, said.
The opposition also accuses the president and the government of failing to deliver on promises to crack down on corruption and raise living standards in the ex-Soviet republic since coming to power in 2005 on the back of a violent public uprising, or "tulip revolution".
In an apparent attempt to satisfy some of the opposition's demands, President Bakiyev fired Interior Minister Osmonaly Guronov Monday and appointed his deputy, Omurbek Seuvanaliyev, to the post.
Seuvanaliyev immediately pledged to dismiss Bishkek police chief, Moldomus Kogantiyev, whose resignation is one of the opposition's demands.
