WASHINGTON - The United States said Friday it would work with the new leadership in Kyrgyzstan to restore order but stopped short of withdrawing recognition from the deposed president vowing to reclaim power.
A State Department official, who asked not to be named, described the situation in the Central Asian state as "fluid" and added: "Right now we're not becoming involved in questions concerning recognition."
The remarks came as former opposition leader Kurmanbek Bakiyev settled into the posts of president and prime minister conferred on him by parliament after fierce protests that chased President Askar Akayev from the country.
But Akayev charged in an e-mail to a Kyrgyz news agency that he had been the victim of "an unconstitutional coup d'etat." He denied reports he had resigned and vowed to return to the country he ruled for 15 years.
The White House appealed for calm in Kyrgyzstan and pledged to work closely with Europe, Kyrgyzstan's neighbors and the ex-Soviet state's new leaders on holding elections there.
"We stress the need for the Committee for National Unity to restore order as quickly as possible and prevent any more violence," spokeswoman Dana Perino said outside US President George W. Bush's Texas ranch.
"The United States strongly supports efforts by the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe to work with the people of Kyrgyzstan to advance democracy and peace in their country," she said.
"As part of this OSCE-led effort, we will work with Kyrgyzstan's new governing structures as they implement steps to develop transparent democratic processes that meet international standards in preparation for Presidential and Parliamentary elections."
The State Department official said Stephen Young, US amabssador to Kyrgyzstan, was in contact with the interim leadership installed after protests over allegations of massive fraud in the March 13 parliamentary polls.
But the official could not say recognition had been withdrawn from Akayev, offering only, "It's such a fluid and unusual situation. We're going to have to take it day by day, hour by hour."
Deputy State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said he was unaware of any US efforts to locate or make contact with Akayev and added: "Recognition really isn't the issue here."
"The issue is helping to support a process that is peaceful, that is consistent with the rule of law and that has the support and the backing of the international community," he said.
The United States, which at times appeared caught short by the fast-moving events in Kyrgyzstan, seemed ready to work with whatever political structure emerged with a stamp of legitimacy.
Ereli shrugged off suggestions that Washington could in fact end up endorsing a bloodless coup. "US policy is to work with the institutions and realities on the ground," he said.
The United States was also in close contact with Russia "on several levels" on the crisis, and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spoke about it early Friday with her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
"They agreed on the importance of the international community working together to help the Kyrgyz people through this political situation, this political crisis," Ereli said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday described the power shift in Kyrgyzstan as "illegitimate" but signaled a willingness to work with the emerging new leadership.
03/25/2005 22:19 GMT