Bishkek, 14 November 1996 (RFE/RL) - The speaker of the Legislative Assembly (Upper House) of the Kyrgyz parliament resigned yesterday -- one day after the country's Constitutional Court declared his selection in March of 1995 as "invalid."
Mukar Cholponbayev, whom the court says was selected by a majority of those present but not a majority of the entire House, thanked his supporters. No other immediate details are known.
Cholponbayev's comments came as the Assembly convened in Bishkek.
Our correspondent reports that the Assembly could not decide yesterday what to do next -- choose a new speaker or pass permanent regulations for the body. The assembly has worked for 19 months without benefit of regulations.