The other day, both parliaments were rivalling for power. That got put an end to, with the upper house dissolving.

Bishkek, 29 March 2005 (RFE/RL) — The upper chamber of Kyrgyzstan’s old parliament today followed the outgoing lower chamber in suspending its activities and giving way to the newly elected single-chamber parliament.

Muratbek Mukashev, the upper chamber’s speaker, read a statement signed by 32 lawmakers from the 45-seat chamber, saying it would end its work “for the sake of stability and to avoid conflict situations.”

Ishenbai Kadyrbekov, speaker of the outgoing lower chamber, said before his chamber disbanded yesterday that the decision was being made for the good of the country although many of its members believe the new parliament lost its legitimacy when the Supreme Court ruled recent parliamentary polls were fraudulent.

The new parliament yesterday followed the outgoing parliament in approving Kurmanbek Bakiev as prime minister. Bakiev is also serving as interim president due to the absence of ousted President Askar Akaev, who has fled the country to an unknown location.

Akayev has also said he may resign.

Kyrgyzstan’s ousted President Askar Akayev says he is prepared to resign if he is given “relevant guarantees”.

Speaking to Russian state TV, he said he was willing to step down if Kyrgyz law was “totally respected”.

The statement contrasts with earlier comments on Russian radio, when he said he was the “sole legitimate president”.

Mr Akayev fled Kyrgyzstan last week, when opposition supporters seized control following protests over recent parliamentary elections.

He told the radio station that he was now in Russia, staying in the country as a guest of President Vladimir Putin.

In his first public comments since being ousted last Thursday, Mr Akayev kept his critics guessing with what appear to be contradictory statements, the BBC’s Ian MacWilliam reports from Bishkek.

I’m guessing these “relevant guarantees” will be legal protections against prosecution and such. Either way, the opposition government was in power whether Akayev liked it or not. These resignations of the old guard and the possiblity of Akayev’s go further to legitimize the new one constitutionally — a good sign of less conflict to come. And right now, when so many people are worried about the final outcome of this situation, all signs of hope are welcome.