Daily US Times: After days of protests following a disputed election, President of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbay Jeenbekov has resigned. The massive protest plunged the country into turmoil.

Mr Jeenbekov said in a statement: “I do not want to go down in Kyrgyzstan’s history as a president who shed blood and shot at his own citizens.”

The Central Asian state has been in crisis since parliamentary elections on 4 October.

Subsequent protests forced electoral officials to annul the election results, and also toppled the government.

Mr Jeenbekov becomes the third president of Kyrgyzstan, which gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, to be ousted by a popular uprising since 2005.

He called for peace as he left office warning that Kyrgyzstan was close to conflict.

He said: “The military and security forces will be obliged to use their weapons to protect the state residence. Blood will be inevitably shed. I urge both sides not to fall for provocations.”

Mr Jeenbekov also called on newly-appointed Prime Minister Sadyr Japarov and other opposition politicians to “take their supporters away” from the capital so that peace could return to Bishkek.

The unrest began after demonstrators took to the streets of the capital Bishkek and stormed government buildings, demanding the resignation of Mr Jeenbekov, who is pro-Russia, and a new vote.

Protestors said the election results had been rigged. International monitors also said the accusations were “credible” and a cause for “serious concern” – as rival groups clashed for power, with several politicians making bids to become prime minister.

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