MOSCOW - The ousted leader of Kyrgyzstan, Askar Akayev, whose 15-year-old regime was overthrown in a revolution last week, on Tuesday called himself the "sole legitimate president" of the Central Asian country and defiantly refused to step down.
Speaking in a radio interview in Russia, where he surfaced after fleeing angry mobs that overran the Kyrgyz government building last Thursday, he said "I see no reason to give my resignation" and called in a separate newspaper interview for talks with the Kyrgyz government.
"Today the only legitimate authority in our country is the new parliament," Akayev told Wednesday's edition of Rossiiskaya Gazeta, according to excerpts released ahead of publication.
"I am ready to begin a dialogue with this new parliament and its speaker Omurbek Tekebayev, if I am assured security guarantees, in order to set life in Kyrgyzstan onto a constitutional path," he said.
Talking to the Echo of Moscow radio station, Akayev said: "Of course Kyrgyzstan is my homeland and I will certainly return once there is constitutional order... and personal security is guaranteed to me and my family."
He refused to start talks with Kurmanbek Bakiyev, a former opposition figure who on Monday was confirmed by the Kyrgyz parliament as the country's interim prime minister and president pending presidential elections hastily scheduled for June 26.
"The executive branch is not legitimate," Akayev said, brushing aside calls from Bakiyev and the parliament for him to formally step dozn.
Akayev was forced to leave Kyrgyzstan when protesters angry at February and March legislative elections widely seen as fraudulent stormed the government building in the capital Bishkek.
Former opposition figures took power with the parliament's support and have set about purging state media and ministries of Akayev loyalists.
In his radio interview, Akayev said "I am in Russia near Moscow" and expressed gratitude to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had extended the offer to take him in -- while also signalling that he was prepared to work with the new Kyrgyz authorities.
03/29/2005 14:02 GMT