Kazakhstan To Watch U.S. Embassy During Election

Kazakh President Nazarbaev (file photo) 21 September 2005 -- Kazakhstan's Prosecutor-General's Office said today that it will monitor U.S. embassy activities aimed at the country's December presidential poll.
The office said in a statement that Prosecutor-General Rashid Tusupbekov and U.S. Ambassador John Ordway agreed that
the embassy would coordinate its activities with prosecutors to ensure they comply with Kazakh laws.

The announcement comes after Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev warned foreign groups earlier this month against
interfering in Kazakh politics.

A U.S. embassy spokeswoman in Astana told the AP that the embassy has agreed to keep the prosecutor's office informed of U.S. election support activities. She said the activities are aimed at promoting fair and transparent elections that meet international standards.

(AP)