Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev has accepted the resignation tendered by the cabinet led by Prime Minister Felix Kulov, according to reports reaching here on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Bakiyev has also asked Kulov and other cabinet members to stay on as acting ministers until a new government is formed, presidential spokesman Dosaly Esenaliyev was quoted as saying.

After an emergency cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Kulov submitted his government's resignation and asked Bakiyev to call early parliamentary elections.

"By our move we are trying to speed up new parliamentary elections. This is a way out of a crisis and a way to intensify the democratic process," Kulov told reporters while announcing the cabinet's resignation.

In early November, Bakiyev was forced to sign constitutional amendments that cut his powers and gave broader authority to the parliament, in the wake of a week long intense opposition protest which was backed by the parliament.

The constitutional amendments have made it impossible for the cabinet to work with the parliament, said Daniyar Usenov, Kulov's deputy.

(Xinhua News Agency December 20, 2006)