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| Kyrgyzstan votes in key election | |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Voters in Kyrgyzstan are going to the polls to choose new MPs in a general election that could bring to an end two years of political upheaval. | |
| President Kurmanbek Bakiyev called the vote after overhauling the constitution and launching his own party, Ak Zhol, which has been widely tipped to win. | President Kurmanbek Bakiyev called the vote after overhauling the constitution and launching his own party, Ak Zhol, which has been widely tipped to win. |
| Critics say the poll and constitutional changes are a power-grab and accuse him of moving towards authoritarianism. | Critics say the poll and constitutional changes are a power-grab and accuse him of moving towards authoritarianism. |
| His supporters argue that the new system is fairer and more democratic. | His supporters argue that the new system is fairer and more democratic. |
| Polling stations opened at 0800 (0200GMT) and will close at 2000 (1400GMT), with preliminary results expected on Monday. | |
| The election is the first parliamentary vote since 2005, when allegations of a rigged ballot led to mass protests that drove President Askar Akayev from power. | The election is the first parliamentary vote since 2005, when allegations of a rigged ballot led to mass protests that drove President Askar Akayev from power. |
| Profile: Kurmanbek BakiyevQ&A: Kyrgyz election | Profile: Kurmanbek BakiyevQ&A: Kyrgyz election |
| Opposition parties have already accused Mr Bakiyev of foul play, saying their activists have been intimidated and local government officials have been pressurised into voting for Ak Zhol. | Opposition parties have already accused Mr Bakiyev of foul play, saying their activists have been intimidated and local government officials have been pressurised into voting for Ak Zhol. |
| Almazbek Atambayev, leader of the Social Democratic Party, which is expected to be the main opposition, said there would "certainly be fraud". | Almazbek Atambayev, leader of the Social Democratic Party, which is expected to be the main opposition, said there would "certainly be fraud". |
| "We will not watch idly in case of lawlessness... a number of parties are preparing protests," he said. | "We will not watch idly in case of lawlessness... a number of parties are preparing protests," he said. |
| But the president has pledged that "all will be honest" with the vote in the former Soviet republic, which has a reputation for being the most politically open country in the Central Asia region. | But the president has pledged that "all will be honest" with the vote in the former Soviet republic, which has a reputation for being the most politically open country in the Central Asia region. |
| Kyrgyzstan has suffered political upheaval since 2005, when Mr Akayev fled to Russia. | Kyrgyzstan has suffered political upheaval since 2005, when Mr Akayev fled to Russia. |
| Mr Bakiyev led the street protests against Mr Akayev, but he has suffered growing unrest during his own period in office. | Mr Bakiyev led the street protests against Mr Akayev, but he has suffered growing unrest during his own period in office. |
| Claims of cronyism and of failure to fight corruption led to mass protests in the streets of the capital, Bishkek, earlier this year. | Claims of cronyism and of failure to fight corruption led to mass protests in the streets of the capital, Bishkek, earlier this year. |