Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev today confirmed two new government officials and reappointed five ministers. Under the decree, Culture Minister Sultan Rayev; Finance Minister Akylbek Japarov; Labor and Social Development Ministers Uktomkhan Abdullaeva; Education and Science Minister Kanybek Osmonaliev; and Industry, Energy, and Fuel Resources Minister Igor Chudinov will retain their posts.

Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev today confirmed three new government officials as part of a new compromise cabinet aimed at defusing a standoff with the opposition.

By a vote of 48-3, the Kyrgyz parliament today approve moderate opposition politician Almaz Atambaev as Kyrgyzstan's prime minister, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reported. To be confirmed, Atambaev needed support from at least 37 of the 72 lawmakers now in parliament. Three ballots were declared invalid, and the remaining 18 parliamentarians did not attend the session.

It is generally agreed that the road to democracy can be rocky and winding. Kyrgyzstan, located in the heart of Asia and surrounded by authoritarian states, has had many problems in its attempts to establish democracy. Today there was another example of how complicated the democratic process can be.

Kyrgyz Prime Minister Azim Isabekov has resigned, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reported. President Kurmanbek Bakiev accepted Isabekov's resignation and has appointed opposition politician Almaz Atambaev as acting prime minister.

The daughter of Kyrgyzstan's ousted President Askar Akaev was registered today as a candidate for parliament in an election scheduled for April 29.

Kyrgyzstan's parliament has ratified an agreement on joint counterterrorism measures on the territory of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reported.

Kyrgyzstan's opposition For Reforms movement today handed a list of demands to President Kurmanbek Bakiev, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reported. The demands include a call for continued constitutional reforms and the creation of a coalition government with the participation of the opposition.