Kyrgyzstan's Bakiyev says he remains president

MOSCOW, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyzstan's ousted leader Kurmanbek Bakiyev, now in Belarus, insisted on Wednesday that he is still the president of his country, Russia's Itar-Tass news agency reported.

Ousted Kyrgyzstan President Kurmanbek Bakiyev makes a statement in Minsk April 21, 2010. Bakiyev said on Wednesday he remained president of the Central Asian state and called on world leaders not to recognise the interim rulers who took over after an April 7 uprising. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

"As the president and safeguard of the constitution, I am responsible for the catastrophe. I must stop this catastrophe. I do not recognize my resignation," Bakiyev said in the Belarussian capital Minsk, according to Itar-Tass.

"There is no power which will make me resign from the presidential post," he said. "I will do all I can to return to Kyrgyzstan under the framework of the constitution."

He also called on world leaders not to recognize the interim government.

Shortly after Bakiyev made the statement, the Kyrgyz interim government fought back saying Bakiyev lied in his latest statement, the Interfax news agency reported.

Bakiyev had earlier passed his resignation letter to international organizations, the interim government said.