The deposted president of the central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan repeated his demand for safety guarantees ahead of talks Wednesday with civil rights groups on his fate, DPA reported.
President Kurmanbek Bakiyev made the call in the south of the country where he fled last week after an uprising that saw an interim government headed by Roza Otunbayeva take power.
Bakiyev, who has not resigned, said he was prepared to give up power in return "for guarantees of safe passage for myself and my family."
The new government has refused to talk directly to the 60-year- old, but civil rights groups are due to meet him later Wednesday at the family stronghold in Zhalal-Abad, media reports said.
Prosecutors have issued arrested warrants for Bakiyev's brothers and his son, Maxim, on murder charges related to the deaths of more than 80 people in last week's uprising against the president.
The new government has referred to Bakiyev as a "bloody dictator" and revoked an offer of immunity after he failed to meet the government ultimatum that he return to Bishkek by Tuesday.
The situation prompted Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to refer to the danger of a civil war erupting in Kyrgyzstan.
Medvedev, who was speaking at the Brookings Institution in Washington, said: "Kyrgyzstan is our neighbour and least of all we'd like to see (it) as a failed state. The most important thing is to prevent civil war there - (the country) is on the brink of civil war. And a civil war could attract terrorists of all kinds."
The state's attorney general has announced the formation of a special security unit tasked with arresting Bakiyev if the overthrown leader does not surrender soon.
Observers say that Bakiyev pushed Kyrgyzstan ever deeper into poverty through authoritarian methods, cronyism and criminally corrupt structures.
The deposed leader is receiving little support internationally, with both Russia and the United States working with and pledging financial support for Otunbayeva's government.
Special envoys from the US, the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe were on their way to or were expected to arrive in Bishkek in the coming days.
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