BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (AP) — Kyrgyzstan's president has asked the minority Social Democratic Party to form a new coalition government in a bid to restore political normalcy to the struggling Central Asian nation.
Almazbek Atambayev said Thursday that members of the incoming coalition should put aside personal ambitions and act in the people’s interest.
Although it is one of the parties with least seats in parliament, the SDPK is benefiting from support from former party leader Atambayev.
The SDPK last week pulled out of the fractious three-party coalition because of disagreements on judicial, political and economic reforms.
Although relatively rich in gold reserves, the ex-Soviet country struggles with hardship exacerbated by corruption and crumbling infrastructure.
Kyrgyzstan hosts a U.S. air base used as a hub for operations in nearby Afghanistan.
