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Kyrgyz leader heads for poll win Kyrgyz leader heads for poll win
(20 minutes later)
In Kyrgyzstan, the Ak Zhol party of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev is heading for a landslide win in parliamentary polls, early results show.In Kyrgyzstan, the Ak Zhol party of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev is heading for a landslide win in parliamentary polls, early results show.
With almost 70% of the votes counted, Ak Zhol was leading with 46% of the vote, the Election Commission said. With 80% of the votes counted, Ak Zhol was leading with 48% of the vote, the Election Commission said.
Only one other party had cleared the 5% threshold needed to gain seats in parliament, the commission said.Only one other party had cleared the 5% threshold needed to gain seats in parliament, the commission said.
Opposition groups say there were widespread voting irregularities in Sunday's polls.Opposition groups say there were widespread voting irregularities in Sunday's polls.
Mr Bakiyev called the snap election after voters approved plans to revise the constitution in an October referendum.Mr Bakiyev called the snap election after voters approved plans to revise the constitution in an October referendum.
He says the new system - whereby MPs are elected on a party-list basis - will give the people more power and help end two years of upheaval.He says the new system - whereby MPs are elected on a party-list basis - will give the people more power and help end two years of upheaval.
But opposition parties accuse him of a power grab and a move towards authoritarianism.But opposition parties accuse him of a power grab and a move towards authoritarianism.
'Historic day''Historic day'
With more than two-thirds of the votes counted, second-placed Ata-Meken had 9.7% of the vote, the Election Commission said. With more than three-quarters of the votes counted, second-placed Ata-Meken had 9.2% of the vote, the Election Commission said.
More than 60% of Kyrgyz voters cast their ballotsMore than 60% of Kyrgyz voters cast their ballots
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) was in third place with 4.7% of the vote, while nine other parties appeared far short of the key 5% mark. Ak Jol and Ata Meken were the only two parties that were certain to clear the 5% hurdle to gain seats in the legislature, according to Central Election Commission official Damir Lisovsky.
But Ata Meken may still fail to get any seats if it falls short of a requirement to take 0.5% of the vote in each of Kyrgystan's seven regions, and its two main cities.
If that happens, Ak Jol will have all 90 seats in the one-chamber legislature.
Turnout was reported at more than 60% and Mr Bakiyev praised the polls as a "historic day" for the former Soviet nation.Turnout was reported at more than 60% and Mr Bakiyev praised the polls as a "historic day" for the former Soviet nation.
But the opposition say the poll was hit by irregularities including the stuffing of ballot boxes, bribery and intimidation.But the opposition say the poll was hit by irregularities including the stuffing of ballot boxes, bribery and intimidation.
Ata-Meken's deputy leader Kubatbek Baibolov accused the government of "flagrant fraud", the French news agency AFP said. Foreign election monitors are expected to comment later in the day.Ata-Meken's deputy leader Kubatbek Baibolov accused the government of "flagrant fraud", the French news agency AFP said. Foreign election monitors are expected to comment later in the day.
It was the first parliamentary vote since 2005, when allegations of a rigged ballot led to mass protests that drove then President Askar Akayev from power and brought Mr Bakiyev the top job.It was the first parliamentary vote since 2005, when allegations of a rigged ballot led to mass protests that drove then President Askar Akayev from power and brought Mr Bakiyev the top job.
But since then, the country has been hampered by a political stand-off between the president and parliamentary deputies elected during the Akayev era.But since then, the country has been hampered by a political stand-off between the president and parliamentary deputies elected during the Akayev era.
Opponents of Mr Bakiyev accuse him of failing to tackle corruption and introduce reform.Opponents of Mr Bakiyev accuse him of failing to tackle corruption and introduce reform.
The BBC's Natalia Antelava says that many people in Kyrgyzstan want an end to continued street protests and government in-fighting.The BBC's Natalia Antelava says that many people in Kyrgyzstan want an end to continued street protests and government in-fighting.
But leaving strong opposition outside the government could prove to be a dubious recipe for stability, our correspondent says.But leaving strong opposition outside the government could prove to be a dubious recipe for stability, our correspondent says.
Foreign nations are also watching the results.The last US military base in Central Asia is located in Kyrgyzstan, a resource-rich region where the Washington, Beijing and Moscow are all competing for influence.Foreign nations are also watching the results.The last US military base in Central Asia is located in Kyrgyzstan, a resource-rich region where the Washington, Beijing and Moscow are all competing for influence.