Nazarbaeva Says Kazakh Opposition, Secret Service In Cahoots

Darigha Nazarbaeva (file photo) (ITAR-TASS) March 10, 2006 -- Darigha Nazarbaeva, the eldest daughter of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev, says in an interview published on March 10 that the country's opposition and the National Security Service are working together on a propaganda campaign against her family.

In an interview in the "Karavan" newspaper, Nazarbaeva says "we are seeing surprising teamwork between those who should in theory be at opposite poles."

Nazarbaeva says the opposition and security service have launched "a carefully orchestrated information war against the president's family" by alleging that President Nazarbaev or members of his family had something to do with the killing of opposition leader Altynbek Sarsenbaev last month.

Sarsenbaev was found shot dead on February 13, along with his driver and bodyguard. The Senate's administrative chief, Erzhan Utembaev, and five security officers have been arrested for the killings.

(AP)