Kazakh Opposition Accuses U.S. Of Double Standards

Zharmakhan Tuyakbai (file photo) (RFE/RL) May 23, 2007 -- The leaders of some Kazakh opposition parties criticized the United States after Washington described recent amendments to Kazakhstan's Constitution a step in the right direction.

The leaders were upset that the U.S. criticism was so mild.

Social Democratic Party leader Zharmakhan Tuyakbai said that "anyone who is more or less educated" could see that most of the amendments were aimed at strengthening the regime of President Nursultan Nazarbaev.

Naghyz AK Zhol leader Bolat Abilov alleged that the amendments gave the president powers that even a monarch does not have.

(Reuters)