Kazakhstan vote not fair, say observers

Kazakhstan failed to meet a pledge to hold its first free and fair election, international monitors said on Monday, casting doubt over an apparent victory for pro-presidential parties.

The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which observed the voting, said Sunday’s election ‘‘fell short of OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections’’. Information Minister Altynbek Sarsenbaiuly resigned in protest. He was the only member of the government formed by President Nursultan Nazarbayev who was affiliated to the Opposition. —Agencies