The new Kyrgyz parliament has elected veteran lawmaker Omurbek Tekebayev as its speaker.

After his election on Monday, Tekebayev suggested the creation of a state council, which will work to pursue consensus of all parties and forces in Kyrgyzstan.

He also called on the government to support his parliament in a bid to solve conflicts by legal means.

Tekebayev reiterated that the new parliament is the sole legitimate national authority.

If President Askar Akayevich Akayev does not announce his resignation, the parliament brings forward presidential elections.

In another development, Kyrgyzstan's acting president Kurmanbek Bakiyev has been sworn in as prime minister after approval by the new parliament on Monday.

He urged peaceful settlement of the current political crisis and asked the outgoing parliament to give way to the new parliament.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the government to consider sending aid to Kyrgyzstan.

Putin also says that the 'Rubezh-2005' military exercises of the Organization of the Treaty on Collective Security, which are planned for Tajikistan in early April, will go ahead regardless of whether Kyrgyzstan participates.

(Xinhua News Agency March 29, 2005)