Bishkek
Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov resigned on Thursday after days of unrest following a disputed election. He said he wanted to prevent clashes between security forces and protesters who have demanded his removal from office.
He becomes the third president of the small Central Asian state to be toppled in a popular uprising since 2005. Kyrgyzstan has been in turmoil since the Oct. 4 parliamentary election, which the opposition rejected after Jeenbekov’s allies were declared the winners.
In a statement, Jeenbekov said he feared that violence might break out if protesters carry out a threat to march on his compound. “The military and security forces will be obliged to use their weapons to protect the state residence. Blood will be inevitably shed. I urge both sides not to fall for provocations,” he said.
“I do not want to go down in Kyrgyzstan’s history as a president who shed blood and shot at his own citizens.”—Agencies
