The Kyrgyz opposition has assumed control of the government after protesters stormed government buildings and President Askar Akayev reportedly fled the country following days of demonstrations.
Hours after Mr. Akayev was said to have fled and his prime minister Nikolai Tanayev resigned, the Kyrgyz parliament appointed former opposition lawmaker Ishenbai Kadyrbekov acting president. The parliament also appointed opposition leader Kurmanbek Bakiyev acting prime minister and asked him to form an interim government. Officials say the parliament plans to reconvene Friday The appointments and Thursday's opposition seizure of the Kyrgyz presidential compound come after days of protests across Kyrgyzstan against what the opposition says were rigged parliamentary elections. The protesters also freed jailed opposition leader Felix Kulov and the opposition took control of Kyrgyz state television.