General Election Under Way In Kazakhstan

Citing the Central Election Commission, news agencies reported a turnout of 12.4 percent in the first few hours of voting.

Germany's dpa news agency cited an international election observer as describing the polls as "transparent" and "open."

Some 8.9 million Kazakhs are entitled to vote in the parliamentary elections, which are being contested by seven parties. The Nur Otan party of President Nursultan Nazarbaev is widely expected to retain control of the 107-member lower house.