Constitution referendum starts in Kyrgyzstan

KYRGYZSTAN: Kyrgyz voters started to cast ballots in about 2,300 polling stations across the country Sunday to determine the fate of a new constitution which would create a parliamentary democracy in Kyrgyzstan.

The referendum started at 0800 local time (0200 GMT).

The number of voters would reach 2.4 million, according to latest official figures.

The ballot asks voters two bundled questions — do they support a new constitution that diminishes presidential powers and strengthens parliamentary authority; do they agree to endorse provisional leader Roza Otunbayeva as acting President for 18 months.

Voters need simply to check one box — yes or no — to answer both questions.

The core content of the new constitution is to transfer the country from a presidential system to a parliamentary democracy.

The new charter would give legitimacy to the Kyrgyz interim Government that took power after former President Kurmanbek Bakiyev was ousted in April.

Bishkek, Sunday, Xinhua