BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan — Prime Minister Almazbek Atambayev said Friday that he would step aside and hand duties over to his deputy in order to run in the Oct. 30 presidential election.
He is seen as favorite to win the election, although he is likely to face stiff opposition from Ata-Zhurt nationalist party leader Kamchibek Tashiyev, who served as a minister under ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiyev. Ata-Meken socialist party leader Omurbek Tekebayev said Friday that he was pulling out from the election to ensure that candidates linked with Bakiyev are less likely to win.
Election officials said foreign television broadcasts would be halted this week to ensure that they do not affect the outcome of the election.
(AP)
