Kyrgyzstan is holding presidential elections which are virtually certain to be won by incumbent President Kurmanbek Bakiyev.

Hundreds of international observers will be monitoring the vote amid widespread fears of the same irregularities that marred the poll that brought President Bakiyev to power four years ago. Earlier this year Kyrgyzstan succeeded in forcing the United States to pay three times more for the use of a military base which is critical to supply its troops in Afghanistan. President Bakiyev had previously threatened to close the base altogether.

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