Kyrgyz Opposition Lawmakers Want To Dissolve Parliament

Protesters in Bishkek on April 16 (RFE/RL) BISHKEK, April 17, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- As rallies demanding an early presidential election and constitutional reforms continued for a seventh day in the capital, Bishkek, opposition legislators said they support dissolving parliament, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reported.

Opposition deputy Melis Eshimkanov told a crowd of some 6,000 protesters that about 21 of 75 lawmakers support a parliament dissolution, and he accused parliamentarians loyal to President Kurmanbek Bakiev of obstructing democratic reforms.

Another deputy, Osmon Artykbaev, told RFE/RL that legislators approve of dissolving parliament "because we think that parliament, along with Bakiev, is responsible for the current situation in the country, for the deterioration of the economic and political situation."

Parliament was expected to debate this week a draft of the constitution drawn up by a working group led by Prime Minister Almaz Atambaev.

Parliament speaker Marat Sultanov said today that lawmakers were ready to discuss a new version of the draft if all political forces reach a compromise.

However, another deputy, Kamchybek Tashiev, said that another group of legislators loyal to Bakiev were refusing to discuss the constitution at all.

"We decided -- many deputies, a group of deputies, comprising some 30 deputies -- have made the decision that we will not conduct any constitutional reforms, we will not look at any constitution as long as [opposition protesters] are creating disorder," Tashiev said.

He said the demonstrators' "goal is not conducting constitutional reforms. Their goal is to seize power or come to power."