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Kyrgyzstan votes for new president in historic election Kyrgyzstan election: Sooronbai Jeenbekov wins historic election
(about 5 hours later)
Kyrgyzstan has held a presidential election that is unusual for Central Asia because it is unpredictable. Voters in Kyrgyzstan have elected a new president in a historic election.
One of the frontrunners, Sooronbai Jeenbekov, is backed by outgoing leader Almazbek Atambayev, who has reached the end of a six-year term. Sooronbai Jeenbekov, a former prime minister backed by incumbent Almazbek Atambayev, won outright, confounding predictions of a tight race.
He and the other favourite, Omurbek Babanov, are former prime ministers. His main rival Omurbek Babanov got just over a third of the vote.
Western diplomats regard the vote as broadly free and fair, analysts say - although there have been reports of violations by some candidates. The former Soviet republic, a close ally of Russia, is now on track for its first peaceful power transfer since independence in 1991. The first two presidents were ousted by riots.
Kyrgyzstan, a former Soviet republic, has remained a close ally of Moscow since independence in 1991, and hosts a Russian military base. Unlike other Central Asian states, which have been run by authoritarian leaders, Kyrgyzstan is a democracy.
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. Presidents are restricted to a single six-year term under a constitution that has been in force since 2010.
If no candidate wins outright with more than 50% of the vote, a run-off will be held. Election officials said Mr Jeenbekov had secured well over 50% of the vote in Sunday's first round, against about 33% for Mr Babanov, an oil tycoon.
The election been overshadowed by a row over allegations of interference from neighbouring Kazakhstan. The election has 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. Current Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev angered the Kazakh authorities by saying Mr Babanov, who made his money there, was their choice for president. He has denied that he was 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.