Kyrgyzstan's former PM vows to rally opposition

BISHKEK, Feb 14 (Reuters) Kyrgyzstan's former Prime Minister Felix Kulov, who lost his post in a bitter row with parliament this year, said today he had agreed to join forces with the Central Asian nation's opposition instead.

Kulov resigned in December in a technical move to introduce a new constitution but failed to regain his post after parliament elected President Kurmanbek Bakiyev's long-serving aide Azim Isabekov as the new prime minister.

Today, he accused Bakiyev's regime of corruption and called for change in the country.

''In this situation I cannot and will not just stay an observer,'' he told reporters, diplomats and his political allies in a speech.

''I have decided to ... unite and head all the fragmented but friendly political forces -- all those who want radical and positive change.'' Kyrgyzstan, which hosts both US and Russian airbases, has lurched through one political crisis after another since former President Askar Akayev fled violent protests against a flawed election in March 2005.

REUTERS MS PM1320