Opposition leaders in Kyrgyzstan took the reins of power after President Askar Akayev’s hardline regime collapsed and looting engulfed the normally sleepy capital of the Central Asian nation. In a day of dramatic developments, crowds stormed the White House compound housing the government and presidency and seized control of the main television station. Amid reports that Akayev had fled the country as discontent over a disputed parliamentary election boiled over, the legislature then met in an emergency session to name opposition chiefs to the nation’s top posts. Ishenbai Kadyrbekov, elected as parliament speaker, will serve as interim president, Kurmanbek Bakiyev as the interim prime minister and Felix Kulov as the chief of the power ministries, deputies attending the session told reporters afterward.
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