Kyrgyzstan President Askar Akayev Resigns

The Russian press reports Kyrgyzstan President Askar Akayev has resigned after protesters this morning stormed the capital building.

Report: Kyrgyzstan President Resigns (AP)

Kyrgyzstan President Askar Akayev has resigned, the ITAR-Tass news agency reported, citing an opposition leader hours after protesters stormed the presidential compound in the former Soviet republic. The Russian news agency quoted Kyrgyzstan opposition leader Felix Kulov, who was released from prison on Thursday, as saying that Akayev has resigned. The report could not immediately be confirmed. Earlier, the Interfax news agency said Akayev had been flown to Russia and his family had been taken to Kazakhstan.

See my coverage from this morning for background. The speed at which this developed is amazing.

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James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. kappo says:

    You might want to update this. According to more recent reports, Akayev is claiming he did not resign.

    http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L25317101.htm

  2. If he hasn’t resigned, then he can hang out with Aristide and Saddam.