Voting ends in Kyrgyz parliamentary polls
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Polling has ended in Kyrgyzstan’s parliamentary elections amid fears of a new turmoil in the Central Asian country. Candidates from 12 parties contested 90 seats in parliament. Poll observers said President Kurmanbek Bakiyev’s Ak Zhol party looks set for victory although first official results are not expected till Monday. Opposition groups accused Bakiyev’s government of foul play and intimidating their supporters. However, the vote was declared valid by the Central Electoral Commission after 61 per cent of the 2.7 million electorate had voted. Kyrgyzstan has suffered political upheaval since 2005, when mass demonstrations ousted President Askar Akayev from power. As a neighbour to China and Afghanistan, the former Soviet state is strategically important for both the United States and Russia.