Opposition candidates claim polls unfair in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan

KYRGYZSTAN/TAJIKISTAN: The United States and Russia closely watched general elections in two remote Central Asian states yesterday, as growing disaffection with veteran pro-Moscow leaders prompted whispers of a repeat of the recent peaceful revolution in Ukraine and Georgia.

The leaders of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, ex-Soviet neighbours high in the mountains that snake south and east into Afghanistan, China and Pakistan, insisted that the polls were free and fair, but beleaguered opposition candidates begged to differ.

President Askar Akayev of Kyrgyzstan accused opponents and the country's US ambassador of fomenting revolt, and warned before the election that any mass protests could spark civil war in a country that hosts US and Russian military bases.

The poll was seen as a precursor to a presidential vote expected in October, when Mr Akayev is constitutionally barred from standing for a third term. Many believe he will stoke unrest as a pretext to run again, or ensure victory for one of his children through his monopoly over the media and most other levers of power.

"I personally, President Akayev, do not have any intention of initiating any changes to the current constitution," he said after voting. "It's a lie that the opposition attributes to me."

His rivals were unconvinced, however. "We do not believe he has the best intentions," said Roza Otunbayeva, a former foreign minister who has become a leading opposition figure.

"We believe the pre-election process wasn't transparent. Pro-government candidates had huge advantages" such as biased coverage in state-run media, she added.

Muratbek Imanaliyev, another former foreign minister in the loosely aligned opposition, concurred: "Bribery, forgery and threats - that's what is going on across the whole country today," he said.

Foreign observers said Tajikistan's general election was also marred by pro-government media bias, and the dubious exclusion of opposition candidates from the poll.

"I'm not saying our elections are being held like they would be in the United States or in the West," said President Imomali Rakhmonov. "We are just starting down the road of building a democratic state."