Another Kyrgyz Official Resigns, Joins Opposition

Another Kyrgyz official has resigned to join the opposition, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reported. Prosecutor Galina Pugacheva announced her resignation today and said she was joining the United Front For A Worthy Future For Kyrgyzstan.

The bloc, headed by former Prime Minister Feliks Kulov, has promised mass rallies next month to call for an early presidential election.

First Deputy Prime Minister Daniyar Usenov today called those demands groundless and illegal. But Usenov said negotiating with the opposition was the only possible way out of the current situation.

"At any time, the only way to build relations between the state and the opposition is by negotiations, by finding common ground, because both sides talk about the people," he said.

Usenov added, however, that President Kurmanbek Bakiev "is an absolutely legitimate president who was elected by popular vote, and I see no reason for holding an early election."

Earlier this week, Deputy Culture Minister Asanbek Sarybaev announced his resignation and said he would join the opposition.

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