Askar Akayev: "I did not betray my country and commit any crimes"

Askar Akayev believes that the parliament's decision to postpone consideration of his resignation statement has both political and technical reasons, however, preference is given to the latter.

"I believe the parliamentary commission headed by the speaker came back from Moscow early in the morning and failed to prepare properly," Akayev noted.

On Tuesday the Kyrgyz parliament was expected to discuss Akayev's statement on early retirement, however, due to the lack of quorum the discussion was postponed till Wednesday. On Tuesday some parliamentarians came out against the consideration of Akayev's resignation and &to=http://newsfromrussia.com/world/2005/04/05/59010.html' target=_blank>demanded his impeachment.

According to Akayev, there are certain forces, which come out for his impeachment. "In compliance with the Constitution of Kyrgyzstan and other countries, the president can be impeached if he is accused of high treason or other grave crime. But I did not betray my country and commit any crimes," Akayev stressed.

I think the parliamentarians will yield to reason, he said.

Askar Akayev resigned proceeding from the country's interests and striving to preserve peace and accord in Kyrgyzstan and make it return to the constitutional order. I did it "to help the acting leadership hold legitimate presidential elections," he emphasized.

If the parliament does not accept my resignation, it will aggravate the complicated situation in the republic, he noted.