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Two Tajik Opposition Parties To Boycott Vote


(RFE/RL) September 24, 2006 -- Two opposition parties in Tajikistan say they will boycott upcoming presidential election.

The Social Democratic and Democratic parties both announced at party conferences today that they will not put forward candidates.

Both parties condemn changes to the constitution that allow incumbent President Imomali Rakhmonov to seek further terms in office.

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.

Besides Rakhmonov, who accepted the ruling People's Democratic Party's nomination on September 23, four other candidates have registered for the November 6 poll so far.

(AFP)

RFE/RL Central Asia Report

RFE/RL Central Asia Report


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