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OSCE Head And Georgian, Ukrainian Ministers In Bishkek

Bishkek, 31 March 2005 -- The head of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Dimitrij Rupel, travels to Bishkek today for talks with Kyrgyzstan's new leaders.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Boris Tarasyuk and Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zurabishvili are also due in Bishkek to offer help to the new Kyrgyz leadership.

Last week, ousted President Askar Akaev fled to Russia after opposition protesters stormed government buildings in the capital, Bishkek.

New interim President and Prime Minister Kurmanbek Bakiev yesterday warned it is too soon for Akaev to return to the country to offer a formal resignation. Speaking on state television, Bakiev said the Akaev's return would "give rise to mass unrest."

Also yesterday, a senior figure in the new administration, Feliks Kulov, resigned as coordinator of the country's law enforcement agencies, saying he had succeeded in stabilizing the situation.

In a related development, U.S. General Lance Smith said yesterday that the new Kyrgyz authorities will allow a U.S. air base to remain on its soil. The base outside Bishkek has been used for U.S.-led operations in Afghanistan.

(RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service/AP/Reuters/AFP)

Copyright (c) 2005. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org