Atambayev Inaugurated as Kyrgyzstan’s President

Posted December 1st, 2011 at 1:40 am (UTC-5)
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Kyrgyzstan President-elect Almazbek Atambayev has been sworn into office in the capital, Bishkek.

Mr. Atambayev's inauguration marks the first peaceful transition of power in Kyrgyzstan since the breakup of the Soviet Union.

Atambayev, a former Kyrgyz prime minister, won the presidency by capturing 62 percent of the vote in an October 30 election.

Under the new Kyrgyz constitution, Mr. Atambayev will serve a six-year term.

He replaces interim President Roza Otunbayeva, who gained power following the ouster of Kurmanbek Bakiyev amid mass protests last year.

Bakiyev was not allowed to seek reelection and fled the country.