Kyrgyz acting President Kurmanbek Bakiyev appointed key interim ministers on Friday while President Askar Akayev denied he has resigned and blamed the opposition for carrying out an "anti-constitutional coup."

Bakiyev, deputy head of the People's Movement of Kyrgyzstan, was on Friday installed as both acting president and prime minister by lawmakers who held seats before the race that fueled the protests.

Bakiyev later chose his important officials, including Ismail Isakov as defense minister and Roza Otunbayeva as foreign minister. Former chief prosecutor Myktybek Abdyldayev who had been fired by President Akayev was picked as interior minister.

Bakiyev appointed them as acting ministers so that the decisions did not have to be approved by the parliament's upper house.

As for presidential elections, Bakiyev said it will be held in June in compliance to the existing constitution.

Without announcing an exact date for the poll, he told parliament that "the elections of a new president must take place within three months according to the existing law."

Also on Friday, Kyrgyzstan's Kabar news agency released a statement purportedly from President Akayev, saying he had left the country and denied that he had resigned.

Akayev insisted in the statement sent through an email that he was still the legitimate president and his absence was only temporary. The opposition had carried out an "anti-constitutional coup," he said.

"Rumors of my resignation are deliberate, malicious lies," Akayev was quoted as saying. "A bunch of irresponsible adventurers and plotters has taken the path of seizing power with force."

Akayev left Kyrgyzstan Thursday following thousands of opposition supporters stormed government headquarters and occupied the national TV station in the capital Bishkek. "Under the circumstances I decided to temporarily leave the country to avoid bloodshed," the president was quoted as saying.

In Bishkek, two people were killed and 367 others were injured in Thursday's violence, health authorities said Friday.

Among the injured, 173 were admitted to hospital, a spokesman for the Health Ministry said.

On Thursday, opposition supporters held street demonstrations, demanding the resignation of President Akayev. Massive violence ensued soon after clashes between the protesters and police.

Scores of local residents with red arm ribbons patrolled the streets of Bishkek on Friday, calling on compatriots to protect the city after an overnight rampage that saw numerous shops torched and looted.

The situation in Kyrgyzstan has caused international concern. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday regretted the Kyrgyzstan crisis and urged the opposition leaders to restore stability in the Central Asian country.

Putin said during his visit to Armenia, "The situation where one of the former Soviet countries has resorted to unlawful means to settle its political problems caused our regret."

He attributed the turmoil to weakness of the authorities and the accumulated socioeconomic problems.

Putin said he hopes the Kyrgyz opposition leaders will soon bring the situation under control and understand their responsibilities for the people, noting he is ready to cooperate with the Kyrgyz opposition.

Moscow will have no objection if Akayev wants to come to Russia, he added.

The opposition in Kyrgyzstan started gathering after the Feb. 27 parliamentary election, alleging the poll was flawed. Rallies escalated after the March 13 run-off, with opposition taking control of government buildings and airports in some southern regions.

(Xinhua News Agency March 26, 2005)