Kyrgyzstan, an impoverished former Soviet republic in Central Asia, will hold the election on July 23. The main opposition party staged nationwide protests against President Kurmanbek Bakiyev last week, accusing him of clamping down on critics and potential rivals.

Financial police said they were investigating allegations that Isa Omurkulov, a member of the Social Democratic party, took a $60,000 bribe in 2004 while working as the head of the state railroad company.

Omurkulov rejected claims of wrongdoing and said he had not been informed of any charges. "This is ridiculous," he told Reuters.

Parliament, dominated by Bakiyev's Ak Zhol party, may now vote to expel Omurkulov from parliament.

The electoral process has come under close scrutiny in Kyrgyzstan since a disputed parliamentary election in 2005 triggered violent protests that forced long-serving Kyrgyz leader Askar Akayev to flee the country. Bakiyev, who has been in power since, has said he plans to run for a second term.


Reuters

Güncelleme Tarihi: 03 Nisan 2009, 13:24