Kyrgyz crisis eases as rivals agree election pact

THE Kyrgyz election contenders Kurmanbek Bakiyev and Felix Kulov have agreed to divide the spoils of the upcoming presidential election in an attempt to unite the opposition and divert Kyrgyzstan from a north-south split.

Mr Kulov said he and Mr Bakiyev had reached the decision to jointly contest the June 26 presidential election with both politicians racing for the top post. Who ever wins will appoint the other as his prime minister.

However, Kyrgyz lawmakers failed to show up in sufficient numbers yesterday to accept the resignation of President Askar Akayev, leaving the ousted leader still technically in power and extending a two-week-old political crisis.