Kyrgyzstan’s deposed has president formally resigned, interim government says

Official: Deposed Kyrgyz president resigned

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan — A member of Kyrgyzstan’s interim government says that the nation’s deposed president has stepped down.

Topchubek Turgunaliyev said Thursday that Kurmanbek Bakiyev has signed a formal resignation statement.

Bakiyev left the country for nighboring Kazakhstan Thursday, raising hope that the unrest gripping the impoverished ex-Soviet Central Asian nation will end soon.

Turgunaliyev says that Bakiyev was accompanied by only his wife and two children, while his other relatives apparently have stayed behind. He says Bakiyev’s former defense minister was arrested while trying to escape.

Bakiyev was driven from the capital, Bishkek, on April 7 after a protest boiled over into gunfire; protesters then stormed government buildings. At least 83 people died in the violence.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (AP) — A member of Kyrgyzstan’s interim government says that the nation’s former defense minister has been arrested.

Topchubek Turgunaliyev said that the ex-minister Bakyt Kalyev, was arrested in southern Kyrgyzstan on Thursday while trying to escape.

Kyrgyzstan’s deposed President Kurmanbek Bakiyev has left the country for nighboring Kazakhstan Thursday, raising hope that the unrest gripping the impoverished ex-Soviet Central Asian nation will end soon.

Turgunaliyev says that Bakiyev was accompanied by only his wife and two children, while his other relatives apparently have stayed behind.

He says the former defense minister was accused of ordering a crowd of protesters be fired upon in Bishkek on April 7. Protesters then stormed government buildings. At least 83 people died in the violence.