Askar Akayev: events in Kyrgyzstan are "the coup d'etat"

The ousted Kyrgys leader denies the fact of his resignation and promises to come back shortly.

In the official statement published today, Mr. Akayev confirmed that he was outside the country and denied he had resigned, calling the reports "malicious lies," the ITAR-Tass news agency reported. "My current stay outside the country is temporary," Akayev was quoted as saying. "Rumors of my resignation are deliberate, malicious lies." He said that he had left the country "in the name of humanism, in order to avoid bloodshed and casualties".

Sources: Itar-TASS, Associated Press