Kyrgyz presidential vote set
 |  A torn portrait of Kyrgyzstan's ousted President Askar Akayev in Bishkek. |
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 Kyrgyzstan's president flees his office amid growing opposition protests
 Protesters take over Kyrgyzstan government headquarters.
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BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (CNN) -- Kyrgyzstan's parliament has set June 26 as the date for a new presidential election following the ouster of President Askar Akayev.
The country's acting president, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, said Saturday he would be a candidate in the election, according to news agencies.
Meanwhile, Bakiyev and Russian news reports said Akayev was in Russia.
"According to my information, he is in Moscow," Bakiyev said. Interfax news agency, quoting informed sources, said Akayev "arrived by plane from Kazakhstan during the night."
Russia's Interfax news agency said the ousted president was being permitted to take refuge in Russia.
The Kremlin said Akayev "asked to come to Russia and this opportunity has been granted to him."
Saturday's developments came as a semblance of calm returned to the capital Bishkek after two nights of looting and sporadic gunfire.
On Thursday, protesters and opposition forces ousted Akayev's government and assumed leadership of the country.
The change of power stems from popular unrest over recent parliamentary elections that many regard as rigged.
On Friday, Akayev sent an e-mail to a local news agency condemning what he said was a coup and promising to become a "key political player" in the country because he was "legitimately elected."
"Rumors of my resignation are false and intentional," according to the e-mail. CNN could not confirm its authenticity.
Akayev called on the opposition to restore constitutional order.
"There has been a constitutional coup in the republic. A small group of irresponsible plotters and carpet-baggers in a criminal way used force to capture power. An uncontrolled and destructive wave of anarchy and violence overwhelmed the capital and other cities," Akayev said.
Following Thursday's takeover, Kyrgyzstan's Supreme Court annulled the results of the disputed parliamentary elections, AP said.
The previous parliament has been declared still valid, but members of the newly elected parliament also have been meeting.
It wasn't immediately clear Saturday whether new parliamentary elections would also be called.
Former opposition leaders now in power have suggested a new legislative vote would be held sometime after a presidential election.
"After the election of the new president, we'll think about the parliament's fate," opposition figure Roza Otunbayeva told CNN Friday.
Overnight Friday, mobs of youths roamed the rain-slicked streets of Bishkek, wielding sticks and throwing stones at cars after dark, AP reported.
Streetlights were shut off, and most civilians stayed home because of the tension
Iskander Sharshiyev, an opposition leader, said three people he described as "pillagers" were killed overnight amid clashes between police and looters, AP reported.
However, Interior Ministry spokesman Nurdin Jangarayev said "everything was normal last night -- better than the previous night. We were working with volunteers all night. We have calmed the people down."
The upheaval in Kyrgyzstan, dubbed by some as the Tulip Revolution, is the third major political revolt in the former Soviet Union. Protests catalyzed the ouster of the Georgian government in 2003 and the Ukraine government late last year and early this year.
Kyrgyzstan is a landlocked country facing problems including poverty and drug trafficking and lacking oil riches like its neighbors. It borders Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and China and is near Afghanistan.
Both the United States and Russia have a military presence in the country, which has a population of 5 million.
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Associated Press contributed to this report.
