Kyrgyzstan's President Sooronbai Jeenbekov said on Friday he was ready to resign once a new cabinet was appointed, as politicians sought a way out of a power vacuum that has prompted Moscow to talk about Russia's obligation to ensure stability.
Opposition groups have quarreled among themselves since seizing government buildings and forcing the cancellation of a disputed election result this week.
They made the first step towards consolidation, raising hopes of an end to a crisis, but thousands of their followers took to the streets at rival rallies that politicians said posed a danger of violence. The opposition is divided among 11 parties that represent clan interests in a country that has already seen two presidents toppled by popular revolts since 2005.
Russia has described the situation in Kyrgyzstan, which borders China and hosts a Russian military base, as "a mess and chaos."
After forcing the cabinet to resign and the election commission to annul the results of Sunday's parliamentary election, Kyrgyz opposition groups have so far failed to agree on who would lead a provisional government.
