Kyrgyz president ready to cede power: activists

BISHKEK (Reuters) - Kyrgyzstan's deposed President Kurmanbek Bakiyev is ready for a peaceful handover of power as long as his safety is guaranteed, a group of human rights activists said on Wednesday after meeting him.

Aziza Abdirasulova, a rights campaigner who flew to meet Bakiyev in his village in the south as part of a delegation, said he looked exhausted and ready for compromise.

"He looked depressed. He had a tragic feel about him. He looked tired," she said by telephone from Jalalabad region.

"He understands how tragic the situation is, that he has no right to remain president. He said: 'I will not cling to the presidential seat'.

"He expressed readiness to meet (interim chief Roza) Otunbayeva and discuss how to bring the situation back into the legal framework, to hand over his power and add legitimacy to the new government."

At least 84 people died in the violence last week when troops opened fire on protesters in the capital Bishkek. Bakiyev fled to the Jalalabad region on April 7 in the ensuing chaos.

The provisional government says he must step down and stand trial for the killings. Bakiyev so far has been defiant but there have been signs he may be ready to give in.

He has hinted he might leave the country if the government guaranteed his and his family's safety, in remarks made after the new rulers threatened to send forces to arrest him.

The human rights delegation, comprised of local representatives, is there to discuss ways to set up an independent commission to investigate the events of April 7.

Tolekan Ismailova, another activist who met Bakiyev as part of the delegation, confirmed his loss of defiance.

"He understands he is not president any more," she told Reuters from the region.

"He is ready to sign documents to legitimize the (new) government. ... He said: 'I need security, and a fair investigation, but not lynching'."

(Editing by Michael Roddy)