Ousted Kyrgyz leader prepared to resign

Kyrgyzstan's ousted President Askar Akayev said on Tuesday he was prepared to resign if he was given appropriate guarantees. Asked by Russian state television if he was prepared to resign, he said: "Of course, if I am given relevant guarantees and it fully conforms with Kyrgyz legislation." He had previously refused to resign and maintains he is the only legal president until new elections on June 26. Earlier in the day he said he needed to be involved in resolving the Central Asian state's political crisis. Akayev said although he was still the president, he was not planning to issue any decrees.
"Above all I am a realist and I must take into consideration reality," he said.
He said he had fled the country half an hour before opposition protesters took control of the government building on March 24, and would return if his safety was guaranteed. He gave no details of what guarantees he would expect.