New Kyrgyz Government Sworn In

An official photo of Prime Minister Jantoro Satybaldiev being sworn into office in Bishkek on September 12.

BISHKEK -- Kyrgyzstan's new prime minister, Jantoro Satybaldiev, and his government have been formally sworn into office.

Satybaldiev, who previously had been chief of the presidential office, was appointed to the prime minister's post last week by President Almazbek Atambaev.

Parliament has confirmed the nomination.

The previous government collapsed last month after two parties in the governing coalition -- Ar-Namys (Dignity) and Ata-Meken (Fatherland) -- quit the alliance over differences with then Prime Minister Omurbek Babanov.

Lawmakers representing the Social Democratic, Ar-Namys, and Ata-Meken parties established a new ruling coalition on September 3.

Babanov's Respublika party and the Ata-Jurt (Homeland) party have founded an opposition alliance called Rule of Law and Justice.