APSN | Newly empowered Kyrgyz parliament in first session

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Newly empowered Kyrgyz parliament in first session

Associated Press - November 10, 2010

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Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan – Kyrgyzstan's newly empowered parliament has convened for its first session, setting the stage for coalition talks among the five elected political parties.

The former Soviet Central Asian nation voted last month to elect deputies to a more powerful legislature, which the government hopes will usher in a new era of democracy and stability.

President Roza Otunbayeva called Wednesday at the opening session for political leaders not only to act in their own parties' interests, but to consider the good of the nation.

Kyrgyzstan has been wracked by instability since the violent overthrow in April of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev.

The coming weeks are likely to see lively political bartering as rival parties jostle for positions in the incoming government.