Text of report by the Kyrgyz news agency Kabar on 18th January

Bishkek, 18th January: A total of 480 candidates, which is half the number
of those in the previous elections, have been nominated for the Kyrgyz
parliament, the chairman of the Central Electoral and Referendum
Commission, Sulayman Imanbayev, told a news conference at the Kabar news
agency today.

The commission's head said that sufficient time had been given for the
nomination - since 22nd November 1999. Only two days remained before the
deadline for the nomination of candidates. Imanbayev said the activity at
this stage of the electoral process was low because of the fact that unlike
in the 1995 elections, only the candidates who "counted on victory" were
standing for the parliament.

"Whereas the people who took part in the previous parliamentary election
were "venturing at random", now the situation is different, no-one wants to
waste his 30,000 soms [about 650 dollars] deposit," Imanbayev said. In line
with the new Electoral Code, if a candidates fails to win 10 per cent of
votes, the 30,000 soms deposit will not be paid back.
Another reason, he said, is the requirement to declare incomes and shares
and other securities and the responsibility for the accuracy of the
declaration.

The electoral commission's chairman said only three nominees had been turned
down so far for the violation of one or another article of the Electoral
Code.

Source: Kabar news agency, Bishkek, in Russian 1355 gmt 18 Jan 00
BBC Mon CAU 190100/** BB/MK