September 23, 2006
Tajik President Accepts Nomination To Run Again
Imomali Rakhmonov (file photo) (epa)
About 2,000 delegates at a congress of the ruling People's Democratic Party today unanimously voted to pick Rakhmonov as their candidate for the November 6 vote.
Rakhmonov, who in recent years has jailed a number of potential challengers, pledged to work to ensure the country's energy security and reduce poverty.
Rakhmonov was first elected president in 1994 when the country was engaged in a civil war.
He was reelected to a seven-year term in 1999 under the postwar constitution, which allowed presidents to serve only a single term. However, a 2003 referendum introduced amendments allowing presidents to serve two terms.
(AP, AFP)
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