Kyrgyz leader nominates long-serving aide to be PM

BISHKEK, Jan 26 (Reuters) Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev nominated a long-serving aide to be prime minister today, moving to resolve a conflict with parliament.

Bakiyev named Acting Agriculture Minister Azim Isabekov, 45, following talks with leaders of parliamentary factions, his press secretary Nurlan Shakiyev said.

The nomination could be approved in a vote likely to be held early next week.

The parliament twice rejected Bakiyev's attempts to reinstall Felix Kulov in the post, holding up legislation including the 2007 state budget.

The former Soviet republic near Afghanistan, which has Russian and US air bases, has lurched through political crises since former President Askar Akayev fled violent protests against a flawed election in March 2005.

Kulov and the government resigned in December as part of constitutional changes originally designed to weaken the presidency and strengthen parliament.

Bakiyev appeared to win in his battle over the constitution, signing away far fewer powers than the opposition wanted, but was unable to reinstate Kulov.

Bakiyev, a southerner, and Kulov, a northerner, ran on a joint ticket after Akayev fled, in a show of unity in a country ethnically divided between north and south.

Isabekov is also a northerner, safeguarding what many see as an important balance in the executive, but has a long record of working with Bakiyev, having served as his chief of staff when Bakiyev was a regional governor and prime minister.

REUTERS PDM PM1359