Kyrgyzstan inaugurated a new president Thursday in the first peaceful transition of power in the former Soviet Central Asian nation, according to AP. Speaking after his swearing-in, Almazbek Atambayev called on all political camps to unite to assure Kyrgyzstan's future prosperity. Authorities hope the inauguration will usher in an era of stability, which has eluded the country since the April 2010 overthrow of former President Kurmanbek Bakiyev. A few months after Bakiyev's ouster, ethnic violence between Kyrgyz and Uzbek communities wracked the country's south and left hundreds dead. Kyrgyzstan's fate is of interest to both Russia and the United States. Atambayev won more than 60 percent of votes in October's presidential election, easily pushing aside nationalist rivals. He spoke in both Kyrgyz and Russian during an inauguration speech tailored to forging national cohesion. Speaking in Russian, Atambayev said Kyrgyzstan could only remain whole by fostering unity.
