BISHKEK, November 7 (RIA Novosti) - Kyrgyzstan's government said Tuesday it did not recognize the Constituent Assembly that opposition legislators have formed to adopt a new Constitution restricting presidential powers.
The opposition in the impoverished Central Asian republic has been demanding constitutional amendments that would delegate some presidential powers to parliament and make the country a parliamentary republic, a move opposed by President Kurmanbek Bakiyev.
"The government does not recognize the Constituent Assembly that was formed in circumvention of the Constitution, and calls on people to remain calm and not react to provocations," the government said in a statement.
Prime Minister Felix Kulov, the president's ally in the March 2005 "tulip revolution," told a news conference that the country is not experiencing a political crisis. "The crisis is in the parliament, which has been split in two."
He said the presidential administration and the courts are operating normally, but warned that "legal measures will be taken to prevent a split in the country" if the situation deteriorates.
President Bakiyev, who also attended the news conference, said it was not his objective to dissolve the parliament, "The parliament will find the energy and wisdom within itself to end this situation."
But he warned: "If the situation escalates and differences persist, I will be unable to endlessly watch the Bacchanalia."
Twenty seats in the 75-seat Kyrgyz parliament are held by members of pro-presidential factions.
