Kyrgyz ex-PM returns from exile

Protests over corruption claims forced Mr Tanayev to quit

Kyrgyzstan's former Prime Minister, Nikolai Tanayev, has arrived from self-imposed exile in Russia to face allegations over abuse of power.

He quit his post when the former president fled the ex-Soviet republic during an uprising in March.

Mr Tanayev, who denies any wrongdoing, says he has not been formally charged with any crime.

He says he has returned home voluntarily and will co-operate with the investigation into his activities.

A spokesman for the chief prosecutor's office said Mr Tanayev is accused of abuse of office and damaging the national budget.

In another development, a warrant was issued for the arrest of former President Askar Akayev's son-in-law, Adil Toigonbayev.

The warrant is in connection with a corruption case involving Mr Toigonbayev's fuel company, which supplied the American military base just outside Bishkek.

The Akayev family was generally believed to control many of Kyrgyzstan's most profitable businesses, though family members always denied it.

Mr Akayev, who remains in exile in Russia, has immunity from prosecution in Kyrgyzstan as a former president.