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Kyrgyzstan's opposition has called on President Kurmanbek Bakiyev to speed up reform or resign. Bakiyev invited six opposition leaders to his "White House" residence on Tuesday to seek a compromise on constitutional reform. The talks brought little progress, participants said, although Bakiyev talked of compromise.
"We demanded his resignation. This was the leitmotiv of the talks," said Melis Eshimkanov, an opposition MP who attended the crisis talks.
"Everything will depend on Bakiyev and his willingness to meet our demands." Bakiyev sought to ease tensions by promising a compromise deal, participants said. "A compromise is possible. Demanding his resignation is our last resort," said Edil Baisalov, an opposition spokesman.
Led by Bakiyev's arch-rival Omurbek Tekebayev, the opposition has threatened to organise mass street protests on Thursday if Bakiyev does not cede more power to parliament. Kyrgyzstan, an impoverished former Soviet state, has been unstable since Bakiyev came to power in 2005 after riots ousted his long-serving predecessor, Askar Akayev.
The West is watching Kyrgyzstan, home to both US and Russian military airbases, for signs of fresh civil unrest which it worries may spread to other Central Asian states. Police said security had been heightened across the capital Bishkek. Interior ministry troops and riot police are ready to use tear gas to prevent violence, they said.
The opposition says Bakiyev has failed to fight corruption and crime, and has not improved people's lives. It wants to curb the president's powers and give more authority to a parliament packed with Bakiyev's opponents. Bakiyev holds vast powers to disband parliament and appoint judges. Parliament's ability to impeach him is limited.
Adding further tension to the political stand-off, Russia accused Kyrgyzstan on Monday of allowing exiled billionaire Boris Berezovsky to visit the country in July. Kyrgyzstan said it was not aware of any visit. Berezovsky, a critic of President Vladimir Putin, is wanted in Russia for economic crimes.

Copyright Reuters, 2006

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