Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev. He  fled the country last month after demonstrators stormed his offices. [AP file]

BISHKEK, April 11 (Xinhuanet) -- Kyrgyzstan's parliament voted on Monday to accept the resignation of ousted President Askar Akayev and set a presidential election date for July 10.

    Akayev, who signed a letter of resignation last Monday in Moscow, remained technically in power until the parliament vote.

    Legislators initially rejected Akayev's April 4 offer to step down, arguing it was too dignified an exit for him.

    Akayev, Kyrgyzstan's president for the past 14 years, fled his country on March 24 when opposition supporters stormed the main government building in Bishkek. He was accused of rigging the recent parliamentary polls to pave the way for winning a further presidential term later this year.

    Last week, the lawmakers stripped Akayev of the perks he would have enjoyed as the country's first president, such as a lifetime membership on the Security Council, a right to address the parliament and government, free access to the media and immunity for his family.

    Under the Kyrgyz constitution, if Akayev's resignation is accepted, he will still enjoy immunity from prosecution.

    Parliament also set July 10 as the date for the next presidential elections. Last week it canceled an election previously set for June 26.

    The lawmakers' decision was welcomed by Parliament Speaker Omurbek Tekebayev as "of historic importance," saying "we have legitimized the upcoming presidential elections, so that there will be no reason for any arguments and no post-election complications."

    Formally ending Akayev's powers was a key step to bringing legitimacy to the new leadership.

    Also on Monday, Kyrgyzstan's Supreme Court acquitted opposition leader Felix Kulov of embezzlement charges, clearing his way to run for president.

    Kulov, a former vice president and security chief, spent more than four years in prison for corruption and other charges that hesays were politically motivated. He was freed immediately after Akayev's overthrow on March 24.

    Last week, the court overturned a guilty verdict on a charge of power abuse dating back to the late 1990s when Kulov was serving as head of the security services.

    Kulov is expected to be the strongest rival to acting President Kurmanbek Bakiyev in the upcoming contest.

    Kulov was credited with ending two days of looting in the capital Bishkek after the coup, but resigned as security chief in the opposition-led interim administration once order was restored.   Enditem