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| Kyrgyz candidate in poll pullout | Kyrgyz candidate in poll pullout |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| The main opposition candidate in Kyrgyzstan's presidential election, Almazbek Atambayev, has pulled out on polling day, claiming widespread fraud. | The main opposition candidate in Kyrgyzstan's presidential election, Almazbek Atambayev, has pulled out on polling day, claiming widespread fraud. |
| Mr Atambayev said the vote, in which President Kurmanbek Bakiyev is running for a second term, was illegitimate and a new election should be held. | Mr Atambayev said the vote, in which President Kurmanbek Bakiyev is running for a second term, was illegitimate and a new election should be held. |
| The US and Russia both have military bases in the strategically important Central Asian nation. | The US and Russia both have military bases in the strategically important Central Asian nation. |
| Mr Bakiyev is widely expected to hold on to the presidency. | Mr Bakiyev is widely expected to hold on to the presidency. |
| According to Reuters, an opposition rally of 1,000 people in Balykchi was broken up by riot police. | According to Reuters, an opposition rally of 1,000 people in Balykchi was broken up by riot police. |
| The police fired shots in the air and used batons to disperse the crowd, according to a spokesman for Mr Atambayev, Reuters said. | The police fired shots in the air and used batons to disperse the crowd, according to a spokesman for Mr Atambayev, Reuters said. |
| "Due to massive, unprecedented violations, we consider these elections illegitimate," Mr Atambayev told a news conference. | "Due to massive, unprecedented violations, we consider these elections illegitimate," Mr Atambayev told a news conference. |
| class="" href="/2/hi/asia-pacific/8162444.stm">Kyrgyz vote amid problems | |
| He earlier said he planned to lead a march to the election commission later in the evening, when preliminary results are to be announced. | He earlier said he planned to lead a march to the election commission later in the evening, when preliminary results are to be announced. |
| "We will not be defeated," Mr Atambayev said after casting his ballot. | "We will not be defeated," Mr Atambayev said after casting his ballot. |
| "People will march in an organised way... We will wait until this evening and then people will decide what to do for themselves." | "People will march in an organised way... We will wait until this evening and then people will decide what to do for themselves." |
| Security tight | Security tight |
| With Mr Atambayev out of the running, there are now five candidates, including Mr Bakiyev. | With Mr Atambayev out of the running, there are now five candidates, including Mr Bakiyev. |
| His opponents have accused him of stifling dissent and tightening his grip on power. | His opponents have accused him of stifling dissent and tightening his grip on power. |
| Mr Bakiyev issued a warning to potential demonstrators, saying: "We will suppress, within the limits of the law, any attempts to organise disorder." | Mr Bakiyev issued a warning to potential demonstrators, saying: "We will suppress, within the limits of the law, any attempts to organise disorder." |
| PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES Kurmanbek Bakiyev - the incumbent leaderAlmazbek Atambayev - former prime minister and the main opposition candidateTemir Sariyev - who broke off from the coalition of opposition parties to run for presidentZhenishbek Nazaraliyev - a celebrity doctor who, if elected, promises to legalise opium cultivationToktaim Umetalieva - a female Krygyz activistNurlan Motuyev - an entrepreneur allegedly linked to a coal-mining scandal | |
| Security is tight across Kyrgyzstan, with 5,000 officers deployed around the country and extra measures in the potentially restive areas of the Ferghana valley. | Security is tight across Kyrgyzstan, with 5,000 officers deployed around the country and extra measures in the potentially restive areas of the Ferghana valley. |
| The US and Nato use the Manas airbase in Kyrgyzstan to supply their troops in Afghanistan, and will be watching intently for any signs of political instability, analysts say. | The US and Nato use the Manas airbase in Kyrgyzstan to supply their troops in Afghanistan, and will be watching intently for any signs of political instability, analysts say. |
| Kyrgyzstan is the only state in Central Asia to have had a so-called "colour" revolution, when a previous president was removed in a popular uprising. | Kyrgyzstan is the only state in Central Asia to have had a so-called "colour" revolution, when a previous president was removed in a popular uprising. |
| That happened in 2005, but four years on the country finds itself in a different political environment, according to the BBC's Rayhan Demetrie in Bishkek. | That happened in 2005, but four years on the country finds itself in a different political environment, according to the BBC's Rayhan Demetrie in Bishkek. |
| President Bakiyev - who took power after the Tulip revolution with 90% of the vote - has campaigned on a platform of stability. | President Bakiyev - who took power after the Tulip revolution with 90% of the vote - has campaigned on a platform of stability. |
| Out of five million Kyrgyz citizens, more than half are eligible voters. By midday, about 40% had cast their ballots, election officials said. | Out of five million Kyrgyz citizens, more than half are eligible voters. By midday, about 40% had cast their ballots, election officials said. |
| But analysts say the overall turnout could be low, citing apathy and mistrust of the election process. | But analysts say the overall turnout could be low, citing apathy and mistrust of the election process. |