Kyrgyz President dissolves parliament

The Kyrgyz President, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, has dissolved parliament and called early elections. The move was expected following the constitutional referendum at the weekend.

The voters backed constitutional amendments proposed by the President.

About 75 per cent of electors supported changes which strengthen the power of the President and change parliamentary voting to proportional all-party lists.

Supporters say the reform is needed to end more than two years of political deadlock.