Kyrgyz president has not resigned and in safe place: Kyrgyz US ambassador

WASHINGTON - Kyrgyz president Askar Akayev has not resigned and is in a safe place, the Kyrgyz ambassador to the United States said Thursday.
"The president has not resigned, he didn't sign his resignation and he is now in a safe place," Baktybek Abdrissaev said at the national press club in Washington in a news conference televised by CNN.
Kyrgyz leader Askar Akayev was believed to have fled the Central Asian nation he has ruled since 1990 and opposition leaders said that his Prime Minister Nikolai Tanayev had resigned.
Abdrissaev also said there was now "looting and murdering" on the streets of the capital Bishkek.
"There is now looting on a massive scale," he said.
The ambassador also said the ousting of the government of the former Soviet republic was unconstitutional.
"Unfortunately these events demonstrate serious violations of our constitution," Abdrissaev said.

03/24/2005 21:35 GMT