Kyrgyzstan government resigns after coalition break-up

Kyrgyzstan's government resigned on Wednesday after President Almazbek Atambayev's party quit the ruling majority coalition earlier this week, deepening a rift between the pro-Russian leader and his former allies.

The Social Democratic party, the biggest party in parliament, broke up with its other five coalition partners on Monday over their refusal to back proposed constitutional reforms, Reuters news agency reported.

The proposed changes would strengthen the powers of the Prime Minister, a role which Atambayev could reportedly take after stepping down as president next year, although he said in August he had no such plan, according to reports.

A bill calling a referendum on the constitutional reform on 11 December needs to be passed in the final, third reading to become law.

One member of the ruling coalition, the Ata Meken party, has opposed the reform, and party leader Omurbek Tekebayev has become one of its most vocal critics, arguing that the change would give the Prime Minister too much power.

Atambaev must now reportedly ask a parliamentary party to form a new coalition.