The former Soviet republic has been rocked by continuing problems since President Kurmanbek Bakiyev came to power in popular protests known as the 2005 "tulip revolution". But the opposition has vehemently criticized him this year for failing to pursue constitutional reform and curb corruption.
Melis Eshikmanov, a member of the opposition movement For Reforms, said the opposition would gather 15,000 protesters on November 2 for a demonstration, which he said had no fixed end date, seeking to reiterate demands made in another rally in early summer.
"We intend to hold a protest and demand [the president's] resignation if the demands of the May 27 rally are not satisfied and parliament's statement on the situation in the country is not implemented by the end of October," he said, adding that the authorities had had enough time for reforms.
Parliament issued a statement September 22 urging Bakiyev to form a coalition government to control the security services and carry out constitutional reform immediately. The security services came into the spotlight after they were accused of planting heroin in the baggage of an opposition leader before he traveled to Poland earlier this month. The authorities there released Omurbek Tekebeyev after they said he had fallen victim to an intrigue and the heads of the Kyrgyz security service promptly resigned, though they pleaded no knowledge of any plot.
Some political experts have said Bakiyev has already fulfilled most opposition demands. He submitted a new draft constitution to the parliament and dismissed a number of top officials after the May rally.
