Kyrgyzstan is to hold a referendum next year to ask people if they want a different government system, President Kurmanbek Bakiev has said. People will be asked if they want power to be held predominantly by the president or the parliament, or to be shared between the two. Mr Bakiev pledged to give more power to the parliament when he was elected president in July. Any changes resulting from the referendum would take place by 2009-10. Currently most power in Kyrgyzstan is held by the president. A council in charge of constitutional change, made up of lawmakers, ministers and civic activists, supported Mr Bakiev\'s proposed referendum, the Associated Press reported. The Russian news agency Itar-Tass said other questions may be included in the referendum, including whether the president, MPs and judges should retain their immunity from prosecution. Mr Bakiev came to power following an uprising in March which ousted former President Askar Akayev from office. He and fellow front-runner Felix Kulov agreed to run on the same ticket, and Mr Kulov is now Prime Minister. (BBC)