Excerpts from report by Uzbek TV on 9th January

Good afternoon esteemed compatriots, the elections of the president of the
Republic of Uzbekistan are underway in regions, districts, towns and
villages of the republic and voters are in very high spirits. The Central
Electoral Commission's press centre is very busy. Our special
correspondent, Husan Ermatov, reports from the press centre.

[passage omitted: correspondent says voters are active all over the country,
the head of the press centre, Sherzod Qudratkhojayev, in Uzbek and Russian
opens the news conference in Uzbek and Russian; Najmiddin Komilov, head of
the electoral commission, in Uzbek followed with Russian translation by
Qudratkhojayev, thanks everybody for coming, says the people regard the
election day as a holiday]

[Komilov] According to reports coming to the electoral commission, the
elections have been very well- organized in all polling districts our
country. No violations of the law or anything like that were observed in
electoral districts. Voters are coming to polling stations and casting
their votes.

According to reports we have received by 1200 [0700 gmt] over 54.5 per cent
of all voters in the republic have already cast their votes. We can
announce that the elections in eight regions are valid as more than 50 per
cent of voters have voted. These regions are Andizhan, Dzhizak, Navoi,
Namangan, Syrdarya, Surkhandarya, Fergana and Khorezm Regions where turnout
was over 50 per cent and we consider the elections there valid.

[passage to end omitted: foreign and local observers are attending the
elections; no violations have been reported so far; elections continuing]

Source: Uzbek Television first channel, Tashkent, in Uzbek 0700 gmt 09 Jan
00
BBC Mon CAU 090100/** BB/AM