DUSHANBE, April 9, 2010, Asia-Plus – I state that as President I have not abdicated and do not abdicate responsibility, Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev stressed in a statement published by Kyrgyzstan’s news agency 24.kg.
As guarantor of the Constitution of Kyrgyzstan, I state that in the case of further destabilization full responsibility will rest with leaders of the opposition who will be punished in according with law, Bakiyev said, adding that he his ready to bear responsibility for his guilt for the tragic events that occurred if his guilt is proved by objective and unbiased investigation.
BBC News reports Bakiyev insists he is still the legitimate president and condemned the uprising, saying the new interim government is “completely incapable” of imposing order.
In an interview with Russia”s Ekho Moskvy radio station he insisted he had no plans to leave Kyrgyzstan but admitted that he did not had any real levers of power.
In a telephone interview with the BBC, Mr. Bakiyev said he was in southern Kyrgyzstan but would not disclose his exact location.
Kurmanbek Bakiyev has offered to hold talks with what he called the temporary government that has replaced his administration. But Mr. Bakiyev insisted he will not resign. “If this so-called ”temporary” government that has appointed itself is prepared to begin negotiation talks, then I”m prepared to listen to them and see what they want,” he said.
President Bakiyev”s statements followed a news conference held by opposition leader Roza Otunbayeva yesterday, in which she said her government – which would remain in power until elections are held in six months – was fully in control.
The opposition says it has taken full power, under a former foreign minister. It has not made an official response to Mr. Bakiyev”s offer of talks. The group, led by Roza Otunbayeva, has declared Friday an official day of morning for 75 people killed in the uprising. Ms Otunbayeva is due to visit some of the wounded in a hospital in Bishkek, BBC News reports.
The violence initially broke out in the provincial town of Talas on Tuesday and spread to Bishkek, where demonstrators marched on government buildings, and another town, Naryn, on Wednesday.
Kyrgyzstan is a strategically important Central Asian state and houses a Russian base and a key US military base that supplies forces in Afghanistan.
According to BBC News, The US says there are “limited operations” at its Manas base but support for its forces in Afghanistan “has not been seriously affected”.
Ms Otunbayeva said the “status quo would remain” regarding the bases but that some questions had to be considered. She also thanked Russia for its “significant support” and said she would be sending envoys to Moscow for talks.
Later another opposition leader, Omurbek Tekebayev, told Reuters that Russia had “played its role in ousting Bakiyev” and that there was a “high probability that the duration of the US air base”s presence in Kyrgyzstan will be shortened”.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Ms Otunbayeva have already held telephone talks. An extra 150 paratroopers are being sent to Russia”s Kant military base, near Bishkek.
