Text of report by the Kyrgyz news agency Kabar on 24th February

Bishkek, 24th February: The opposition-minded candidates for parliamentary
seats, Daniyar Usenov [leader of the (Poor and Unprotected) People's
Party], Adaham Madumarov, Aleftina [also found as Alevtina] Pronenko,
Omurbek Tekebayev [leader of the Fatherland [Ata-Meken] Socialist Party,
Feliks Kulov [leader of the Honour (Ar-Namys) Party, Omurbek Suvanaliyev
[sacked head of southern Osh customs checkpoint] and Dooronbek Sadyrbayev
have adopted a joint statement on the results of the first round of the
elections [held on 20th February]. In the statement the candidates
expressed their thanks to the international observers as well as to the
republic's independent media for the objective coverage of the election
campaign. The candidates have called voters to take an active part in the
second round of the elections.

At today's news conference they stated unanimously that heads of local state
administrations had violated the electoral code in the localities. The
results of the first round of elections show that almost all of the
above-mentioned candidates gained more votes than their opponents. They are
grateful to the people of Kyrgyzstan for "voting according to their
consciences in spite of the pressure exerted by local authorities". In the
opinion of candidate Feliks Kulov, the runoff elections will be even
fiercer, because "all forces will be engaged to put out of action
opposition-minded candidates". Answering questions from journalists,
Dooronbek Sadyrbayev and Omurbek Tekebayev said that in case of "unfair
defeat by their opponents in the runoff elections, they will start fighting
for the presidential post". If this is the case, Daniyar Useenov intends to
act to restore justice in accordance with the law. Omurbek Suvanaliyev, for
whom, according to preliminary results, 18.83 per cent of voters voted
whilst his opponent gained 10.45 per cent of votes, remains confident of
victory in the struggle for a parliamentary seat.

Source: Kabar news agency, Bishkek, in Russian 1415 gmt 24 Feb 00
BBC Mon CAU 240200/** VA/MK