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Kyrgyz leader heads for poll win Kyrgyz leader's poll win criticised
(about 4 hours later)
In Kyrgyzstan, the Ak Zhol party of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev is heading for a landslide win in parliamentary polls, early results show. Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev's party has won a resounding victory in the country's general elections, according to preliminary results.
With 80% of the votes counted, Ak Zhol was leading with 48% of the vote, the Election Commission said. But international monitors say the poll failed to meet international standards.
Only one other party had cleared the 5% threshold needed to gain seats in parliament, the commission said. Mr Bakiyev's Ak Zhol party has won every parliamentary seat, with no other party able to secure the necessary distribution of votes.
Opposition groups say there were widespread voting irregularities in Sunday's polls. Opposition groups have accused Mr Bakiyev of a power grab, and a move towards authoritarianism.
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. Turnout in Sunday's polls was reported at more than 60%, and Mr Bakiyev praised the elections as a "historic day" for the former Soviet nation.
But in a statement on Monday, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) criticised the election.
"The 16 December parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan failed to meet a number of OSCE commitments," it said.
"Overall the election represented a missed opportunity and fell short of public expectations for further consolidation of the election process."
'Historic day''Historic day'
With more than three-quarters of the votes counted, second-placed Ata-Meken had 9.2% of the vote, the Election Commission said. With more than 80% of votes now counted, it is apparent that only one other party, Ata Meken, cleared the 5% threshold needed to gain seats in parliament.
More than 60% of Kyrgyz voters cast their ballots But while it gained 9.2% of the votes, Ata Meken was unable to reach a requirement to take 0.5% of the vote in each of Kyrgystan's seven regions, and its two main cities.
Ak Zhol 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. More than 60% of Kyrgyz voters cast their ballotsThe opposition says the poll was hit by irregularities including the stuffing of ballot boxes, bribery and intimidation.
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. Ata-Meken's deputy leader Kubatbek Baibolov accused the government of "flagrant fraud", the French news agency AFP said.
If that happens, Ak Zhol 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.
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.
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.