Kazakh MPs ask President Nazarbayev to extend his rule in early polls

[World News]

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By Raushan Nurshayeva ASTANA (Reuters) - Kazakhstan's parliament asked President Nursultan Nazarbayev on Wednesday to set the date for an early election which is likely to extend his rule over the oil producing nation into a fourth decade. The lower house of parliament, dominated by Nazarbayev's ruling Nur Otan party, swiftly passed a 104-0 vote to back a proposal for him to seek re-election this year. The 74-year-old authoritarian leader has ruled Kazakhstan since 1989. In what appears to be a well-orchestrated process, the initiative was first aired last weekend by the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, a constitutional body chaired by Nazarbayev.

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