Turkish president hails Kyrgyz presidential handover as historic moment

BISHKEK (A.A) - Turkish President Abdullah Gul welcomed Kyrgyz presidential handover as a historic moment Thursday, which saw the Central Asian nation's first peaceful transition of power since 1991 independence from the Soviet Union. "Today we are witnessing a historic day. Two presidents stand side by side in Kyrgyzstan, in Central Asia. This is a historic event," Gul told a handover ceremony in Kyrgyz capital Bishkek.  The interim president, Roza Otunbayeva, ceded the top post to Almazbek Atambayev, a former Kyrgyz prime minister, who won a landslide 60 percent victory in the presidential election last October.         The first two presidents of the country were ousted after public uprisings. International community have praised Otunbayeva, who wrested power from Kurmanbek Bakiyev, for agreeing to step down. "This peaceful handover will be a source of inspiration for Kyrgyzstan. May your path be bright," Gul said. Atambayeva vowed to expand freedom of press and pass laws to tackle regional discrimination and extreme nationalism.