Ousted Kyrgyz President Signs His Resignation

Askar A. Akayev signed his resignation as Kyrgyzstan's president, lawmakers said, raising hopes of ending political turmoil in the Central Asian country 11 days after he fled protesters storming his offices.

Akayev signed his resignation, effective Tuesday, at the Kyrgyz Embassy in Moscow, a day after meeting with a delegation representing Kyrgyzstan's interim leadership.

By stepping down, he removes the last major obstruction to holding new presidential elections, tentatively set by the interim government for June 26.