Kyrgyzs expecting presidential elections in summer heat

BISHKEK, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyzstan, a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia, is in the throes of midsummer these days.

In the capital of Bishkek, citizens walk along Manas boulevard as leisurely as usual. What is unusual are the posters of presidential candidates hanging everywhere, reminding voters of Thursday's elections.

There are six presidential candidates on the ballot, the fifth general election since Kyrgyzstan's independence in 1991. President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and opposition candidate Almazbek Atambayev, the former prime minister, are among the candidates.

Bakiyev's posters, which are all over the city, stand out by indicating that he is for people from all walks of life. Each of his posters shows the image of a citizen, with such slogan as "Only Bakiyev" printed beside it.

There aren't as many posters of the other candidates but they can also be seen on the main streets in the city.

Svetlana Marchenko, a 64-year-old woman, told Xinhua she will cast her ballot for Bakiyev because he raised pensions during his presidency.

"The government also made achievements in safeguarding public security and improving the quality of youth," she said.

Bakiyev also seems to enjoy a high approval rating among youngsters.

"Bakiyev has proved his capabilities in the past four years, and he has a blueprint for national development, so there is a good chance he will be the winner," said Erkin Isayev, a high school student.

The 17-year-old boy, clad in a black T-shirt and shorts, said he learned about the candidates on the Internet even though he is too young to vote.

Ryslan Shabatoyed, a small businessman in his thirties, said he is in favor of Atambayev.

"Bakiyev is not bad, however, in my view, Atambayev is better," he said, leaning against the door of his cramped fruit shop.

Under the Kyrgyz constitution, the president has a five-year term and is allowed to be reelected once.

The Kyrgyz Central Election Commission said more than five hundred international observers, mainly from the members states of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), will monitor the election.