Kyrgyzstan's upper house dissolves for stability

The upper house of Kyrgyzstan’s old parliament announced today that it will dissolve and end its struggle against a newly elected rival legislature, in a bid to bring stability after last week’s ouster of President Askar Akayev.

The move by the previously defiant lawmakers came a day after the Central Asian nation’s interim leader threw his support behind the new parliament.

The chamber’s Speaker Muratbek Mukashev read a statement signed by 23 lawmakers from the 45-seat chamber, saying it would end its work “for sake of stability, and to avoid conflict situations”.

The chamber’s lower house had disbanded yesterday.

“We believe that we have fulfilled our task, especially during the difficult time for our country,” Mukashev said.

The old parliament had reconvened hours after protesters stormed the presidential and government headquarters last Thursday, ousting Akayev.

Kurmanbek Bakiyev, the former opposition leader who is now prime minister and interim president of the ex-Soviet republic, praised the legislators for stepping down after days of tension in which the two parliaments were meeting in the same building.

“You have taken the right and historic decision,” said Bakiyev, who had pronounced the rival parliament legitimate yesterday and urged the old legislature to dissolve. “I hope your decision will bring calm.”