Thousands of opposition supporters have been rallying on the streets of the country's capital, Bishkek, for a week, demanding amendments to the constitution that would curb the president's powers. On Tuesday the protests turned violent, and police fired tear gas on protestors to control the mayhem.
The opposition accuses president Kurmanbek Bakiyev of failing to fulfill pledges to control corruption and improve life in the impoverished Central Asian state.
The press service said, "The parties have reached agreement on three issues related to procedures for forming parliament, the Cabinet, and the judiciary. Parliament is expected to start a debate on a new draft constitution today."
Under a compromise agreement drafted by opposition and pro-government lawmakers on Tuesday, the president would lose the right to dissolve parliament, and parliament would gain the authority to appoint the prime minister and the Cabinet.
Azimbek Beknazarov, an opposition MP and member of the For Reform movement, said earlier Wednesday the opposition is ready to accept the president's conditions for signing a new constitution.
The president wants to take part in amending the constitution, and insists on retaining the authority to approve cabinets formed by parliament, as well as judges, he said.
The proposed constitution must be approved by a quorum of 51 votes in the country's 75-seat legislature.
"In general, we agree to the three conditions [set by the president]," Beknazarov said, adding that the opposition insists the president should start debates on the draft constitution today, and that he refrain from persecuting officials who joined the opposition during the protests in the Bishkek.
The opposition, in turn, has agreed to drop its demands that the government resign, Beknazarov said, adding that Prime Minister Felix Kulov, Bakiyev's ally in the March 2005 'tulip revolution' which toppled long-serving leader Askar Akayev and forced him to flee the country, had insisted on this.
Popular in the north of the post-Soviet state, Kulov is in conflict with President Bakiyev, who represents more prosperous southern areas. He enjoys the support of opposition members, who regard him their leader.
But on Tuesday, Kulov moved to back the president by condemning the protests, which left at least six people injured after the violence on Tuesday. He said the opposition had "attempted to usurp power", and pledged to retaliate to keep the country from disintegrating, Kommersant daily reported.
Azimbek Beknazarov said a reconciliation commission, comprised of opposition members, presidential officials, and pro-presidential members of parliament, is beginning to work on a draft constitution.
If the constitution is adopted today, protests will end before the end of the day, Beknazarov said, but warned that parliament will dissolve itself if Bakiyev fails to sign the document.
"If he [Bakiyev] does not sign the constitution, we 30 deputies will declare a voluntary dissolution of parliament," Beknazarov said.
