Kyrgyz president signs constitution

Opposition group says signing the document is a criminal act.

Kyrgyzstan protest
Opposition protests in November removed some powers from the president [AP]
“The new constitution returns to the president a series of powers removed under pressure from the opposition on November 9,” including the right to appoint the heads of local administrations, Iskhak Masaliyev, head of the parliamentary committee on government structure and constitutional law, said.
 
Before the signing, an opposition deputy, Azimbek Beknazarov, told parliament: “The president has been sent a counterfeit constitution to sign … If Bakiyev signs this constitution, it should be punished as a criminal act.”
 
Kyrgyzstan’s parliament passed the constitution on Saturday in a vote boycotted by 20 opposition MPs out of the chamber’s total of 72.
Source: News Agencies