Military

Kyrgyz government resigns after president announces reform

RIA Novosti

15:16 20/10/2009 BISHKEK, October 20 (RIA Novosti) - The government of Kyrgyz Prime Minister Igor Chudinov resigned on Tuesday at an extraordinary Cabinet session following the president's announcement of sweeping changes to state institutions, a Cabinet source said.

Earlier on Tuesday, President Kurmanbek Bakiyev announced details of a wide-reaching reorganization of the apparatus of government, giving more power to the presidency.

Bakiyev criticized the current state apparatus as "cumbersome and incapable of timely responding to crises and swift changes in the situation," and said he would cut the number of ministries, introducing a smaller number of agencies instead.

The overhaul is expected to save the former Soviet state about $11.5 million in budget funds, Bakiyev said.

Bakiyev accepted the Cabinet's resignation and said his Ak Zhol party would nominate a new candidate for prime minister later in the day.