Presidential elections cancelled amid ethnic violence

REUTERS - Kyrgyzstan’s interim leader Roza Otunbayeva will act as president until the end of 2011, after which she will be replaced, the government of the Central Asian state said on Wednesday.

A former Soviet diplomat, Otunbayeva came to power on April 7 during a popular revolt which toppled President Kurmanbek Bakiyev.

“The term for the president in the transitional period will last until December 31, 2011,” the government said in an order.

In her role as acting president, Otunbayeva will not have the right to take part in presidential elections planned for 2011, the government said.

“The president of the transitional period will not have the right to seek election as president in the elections in 2011,” the government order said.

Kyrgyzstan will hold a referendum on changing its constitution on June 27.

After taking power last month, some members of the interim government had floated the idea of holding presidential elections at the same time as parliamentary elections, which are planned for October 10 of this year.