Kazakh President Announces Reelection Bid

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev attends the Nur Otan political party congress in Astana today.

Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbaev has formally agreed to run for reelection in snap polls.

He made the announcement at a congress of the ruling party Nur Otan, where he was invited to run in the April 3 poll.

Nazarbaev earlier this month issued a decree to conduct the early election following the passage of a constitutional amendment.

The 70-year-old president is certain to win another five-year term, which would extend his rule to a third decade.

Kazakhstan's political opposition is marginalized, with parliament exclusively made up of Nazarbaev supporters in the Nur Otan party, which he leads.

compiled from agency reports