[JURIST] Kyrgyz interim prime minister Azimbek Beknazarov announced Tuesday that the temporary government has suspended the country's highest court until the country creates a permanent government. Beknazarov said that the Constitutional Court will remain temporarily dissolved [RIA Novosti report] because it allegedly supports ousted president Kurmanbek Bakiyev [BBC profile]. Beknazarov also warned Bakiyev on Tuesday that he no longer has presidential protection [AFP report] from legal proceedings and that he would be arrested and face criminal investigation if he did not step down as president. A Kyrgyz court also issued arrest warrants [Interfax report] for Bakiyev's brother and son and the country's former prime minister. In response, Bakiyev said Tuesday that he would admit defeat [BBC report] if the interim government assured the safety of his family. Bakiyev offered to meet with interim leader Roza Otunbayeva [Telegraph profile] and called on the international community to investigate last week's coup [JURIST report].

Last week, former Kyrgyz foreign minister Otunbayeva announced that she will lead an interim government in Kyrgyzstan after violent protests [JURIST report] apparently ousted Bakiyev and his administration. Otunbayeva, leader of the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan [party website, in Russian], said that her temporary government will rule for six months [Guardian report] until the country holds democratic elections. Reports vary as to the number of citizens killed during the protests, with Kyrgyz opposition officials reporting more than 80 deaths and more than 1600 injuries [Bangkok Times report]. Also last week, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon [official website] announced that he will send an envoy to Kyrgyzstan and encouraged calm [UN News Centre report] in the unstable country. Rights groups have also urged leaders to respect human rights [HRW press release].