Akayev supporters in Bishkek, a city of 800,000. Rumours flew that Akayev had fled the mountainous country which appears likely to become the third former Soviet state in two years to see its entrenched leadership fall to popular protest after disputed elections, following Ukraine and Georgia. Felix Kulov -- an opposition leader freed from jail earlier in the day by protesters -- denied media reports that quoted him as saying Akayev had resigned. "Akayev's resignation will come when we find him," he told Reuters. But while the hunt was on for Akayev, Prime Minister Nikolai Tanayev resigned, a spokesman for former Prime Minister Kurmanbek Bakiev, another opposition leader, told reporters. --More 0312 Local Time 0012 GMT
