President Bakiyev Steps Down

OSH, Kyrgyzstan - The deposed president of Kyrgyzstan left the country Thursday for neighboring Kazakhstan, allaying fears of new violence in the Central Asian nation that hosts a key U.S. military base supporting the war in Afghanistan.Kazakhstan said the presidents of the United States. Russia and Kazakhstan helped arrange for Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev to leave the country. It called Bakiyev's move an "important step toward stabilization of situation."Kyrgyzstan's interim rulers said that Bakiyev signed a formal letter of resignation before boarding the plane. Witnesses say Bakiyev flew out from the southern city of Jalal-Abad in a military transport aircraft.Bakiyev's departure follows the provisional government's warning that he should either quickly leave the country or face a trial........