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Kyrgyz president allows opposition in coalition govt.

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BISHKEK, March 28 (RIA Novosti) - Kyrgyzstan's president has agreed to form a coalition government with the opposition in a bid to deter rallies promised by his opponents, the Central Asian state's prime minister said Wednesday.

Azim Isabekov also confirmed a report earlier Wednesday that President Kurmanbek Bakiyev had dismissed five key ministers from his government, which was only formed in early February amid protests over the slow pace of reforms.

"We are suggesting public organizations and political parties put forward their candidates to the posts," said Isabekov, the former agriculture minister who became premier in late January following a standoff between the president and parliament.

Tensions between the government and opposition have persisted in the impoverished republic despite Bakiyev's decision earlier in March to meet some of opposition demands - to form a working group to launch new constitutional reform and transform state television into public.

The opposition threatened massive rallies if Bakiyev failed to start fulfilling their demands by April 11.

A coalition government was a further basic demand from the opposition's liberal faction seeking a consensus with the government.

Those dismissed from the Cabinet, which was formed after Prime Minister Felix Kulov's resignation, include the first deputy prime minister, the economics minister and the chief of government staff.

Isabekov said Kyrgyzstan was experiencing a "difficult situation" and added the president had reaffirmed his willingness to "carry out reforms and ensure stability in the country" at a meeting Wednesday morning.

"We are inviting people, members of society, to work together," the premier said.

Kyrgyzstan has been rocked by protests since Bakiyev came to power after a popular uprising in 2005 over the new government's failure to act on promises to curb corruption and raise living standards in the Central Asian state.

Kulov, the ex-premier who was a political prisoner under Bakiyev's long-serving predecessor, emerged as an opposition leader after his resignation, accusing Bakiyev of breaking their alliance and pursuing narrow interest goals harmful for the country.

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