SUKHUM. Nov 19 (Interfax) - The Abkhaz parliament accepted the resignation of Abkhaz President Aslan Bzhania at a special meeting on Tuesday.
The decision was made in a secret ballot by 28 votes, one voted against.
Thirty-one MPs attended the meeting.
Bzhania tendered his resignation after hours of negotiations held last night at the Abkhaz Defense Ministry with members of the Abkhaz administration and opposition leaders.
The sides agreed that Vice President Badra Gunba would be the sitting president until the presidential election.
The sides also agreed on the resignation of Prime Minister Alexander Ankvab to be replaced by former parliament speaker Valery Bganba. Neither negotiating side objected to Bganba's candidacy.
As agreed, all incumbent ministers will continue to fulfill their duties until the new president is sworn in.
"The republic's parliament will schedule the Abkhaz presidential election, probably, next week, after consultations with the republic's Central Elections Commission," parliament member Levon Galustyan told Interfax.