ALMA ATA, Jan. 6 (Xinhuanet) -- Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev signed a decree on Friday authorizing a referendum on a new constitution to be held in the last three months of 2006, his office said.

    The order was part of Bakiyev's promise made ahead of the presidential elections last July to curtail presidential powers and give more authority to parliament. Bakiyev, the former opposition leader, won the election by a landslide.

    Changes to the constitution are required if the country's citizens want to curtail the powers of the president in favor of a stronger parliament. A special commission has been working for months on the text of the new constitution.

    Kurmanbek Bakiyev was named acting president and prime minister by the parliament after former Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev fled the country amid protests by opposition supporters who took control of the government building on March 24, 2005. Enditem