Kyrgyz Parliament To Vote On Prime Minister

The Kyrgyz parliament is expected to vote today on President Kurmanbek Bakiev's nominee for prime minister, acting Agriculture Minister Azim Isabekov, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reported.

Bakiev nominated Isabekov, an economist and a close ally of the president, on January 26 after his previous nominee for prime minister was twice rejected by parliament.

The Kyrgyz Constitution gives the president the right to make three nominations; if Isabekov is rejected, the president may dissolve the parliament.

Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org