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Kyrgyzstan votes for new president in historic election | Kyrgyzstan votes for new president in historic election |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Kyrgyzstan has held a presidential election that is unusual for Central Asia because it is unpredictable. | |
One of the frontrunners, Sooronbai Jeenbekov, is backed by outgoing leader Almazbek Atambayev, who has reached the end of a six-year term. | |
He and the other favourite, Omurbek Babanov, are former prime ministers. | He and the other favourite, Omurbek Babanov, are former prime ministers. |
Western diplomats regard the vote as broadly free and fair, analysts say - although there have been reports of violations by some candidates. | |
Kyrgyzstan, a former Soviet republic, has remained a close ally of Moscow since independence in 1991, and hosts a Russian military base. | |
Its first two post-Soviet presidents were swept from power by popular discontent. The two main contenders in Sunday's poll favour continued links with Russia. | |
If no candidate wins outright with more than 50% of the vote, a run-off will be held. | |
The election been overshadowed by a row over allegations of interference from neighbouring Kazakhstan. | |
The current Kyrgyz president, Almazbek Atambayev, angered the Kazakh authorities by saying Mr Babanov, a businessman who made his money there, was their choice for the new president. He has denied that he is backed by them. | |
In response Kazakhstan tightened customs checks at the border, leading to long queues. | In response Kazakhstan tightened customs checks at the border, leading to long queues. |
Kyrgyz presidents are restricted to a single six-year term under a constitution that has been in force since 2010. |