Kurmanbek Bakiyev, who headed mass protests that triggered a coup in Kyrgyzstan last week, was appointed to lead the Central Asian state by its new parliament Monday as officials battled to end political chaos. Bakiyev, who had previously disputed the election of the new parliament, was named prime minister, giving Kyrgyzstan a leadership with some claim to legitimacy after days of confusion following the overthrow of veteran President Askar Akayev. The parliament's decision automatically confirmed Bakiyev's position as acting president, a role he took on last Friday even though Akayev -- in power for 14 years in the impoverished, mountainous former Soviet republic -- has refused to quit.Akayev issued a statement from exile in Russia, accusing Kyrgyzstan's new leaders of disgracing the mainly Muslim country of 5 million and ruining the economy. He did not indicate whether he would try to return home as he has hinted before. The new leaders had warned of the risk of civil war after the collapse of Akayev's government last Thursday in an orgy of violence and looting that followed protests over alleged election-rigging. Calm has since returned. Bakiyev held out an olive branch to the new parliament, which was formally allowed to take over Monday from the previous legislature. The old parliament bowed out with deputies saying it did not want to cause friction, in what many observers said was a sign of politicians adapting to reality. "I can be reproached for saying earlier that the (February and March) polls were not legitimate. I said so. But in this parliament we have questions to only 15 to 20 constituencies, no one is saying that all deputies have to go," said Bakiyev.
Kyrgyzstan has set June 26 for a new presidential election, although the date still has to be confirmed. Bakiyev is almost certain to stand. Acting Foreign Minister Roza Otunbayeva said there would be no radical changes in foreign policy and that the new government would stick to agreements with Moscow and Washington, allowing them to keep their military bases in the country.