Kazakhstan holds early presidential poll

Kazakhstan holds early presidential poll - Kazakhstan today holds an early presidential election that is widely expected to hand long-time President Nursultan Nazarbayev another term in office. The 70-year-old leader's current term ends in 2012, but he called for snap elections after rejecting a proposed referendum that would have extended his rule of one of the wealthiest Central Asian nations until 2020. He is expected to seek another term in 2016. Kazakhstan's main opposition leaders called for a voter boycott, saying there was not enough time to organize a meaningful campaign in time for the April 3 vote. Kazakhstan has never held an election deemed free and fair by international observers.