Tashkent time is - 
30 December 2009
08:35 -
Uzbek leader’s loyalists share parliament seats
Most parliamentary seats have been allocated after Uzbekistan’s stage-managed election held on Sunday, in which only pro-government parties were allowed to stand, local media reported on Tuesday.
Central Asia’s most populous nation, Uzbekistan has never held a vote judged free and fair by Western observers but the West has kept quiet during the latest poll, seeking to engage Tashkent more closely in US efforts in Afghanistan.
All four parties whose candidates have been awarded seats in the lower house in parliament support President Islam Karimov, in power for two decades. The country has no opposition parties and most pro-democracy figures are in jail or in exile abroad. “According to preliminary data ... 94 deputies have been elected in the first round,” the Central Election Commission said in a statement, adding that voter turnout was 87.8 percent.
The remaining 41 deputies will be elected in run-off polls while 15 members of the 150-seat chamber will be nominated by the Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan.
The commission refused to provide any information on the early results of the poll by telephone. It did not say when the run-offs would take place. Final results are due by Jan. 6. Uzbek news agency 12.uz reported on Tuesday that so far, the Liberal Democratic party led the polls, having secured 34 seats. reuters // Daily Times
Central Asia’s most populous nation, Uzbekistan has never held a vote judged free and fair by Western observers but the West has kept quiet during the latest poll, seeking to engage Tashkent more closely in US efforts in Afghanistan.
All four parties whose candidates have been awarded seats in the lower house in parliament support President Islam Karimov, in power for two decades. The country has no opposition parties and most pro-democracy figures are in jail or in exile abroad. “According to preliminary data ... 94 deputies have been elected in the first round,” the Central Election Commission said in a statement, adding that voter turnout was 87.8 percent.
The remaining 41 deputies will be elected in run-off polls while 15 members of the 150-seat chamber will be nominated by the Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan.
The commission refused to provide any information on the early results of the poll by telephone. It did not say when the run-offs would take place. Final results are due by Jan. 6. Uzbek news agency 12.uz reported on Tuesday that so far, the Liberal Democratic party led the polls, having secured 34 seats. reuters // Daily Times
