Kazakh opposition rallies support before election

ALMATY, July 18 (Reuters) Kazakh opposition leaders laid flowers at an independence monument and shouted ''Victory is ours!'' today to mark the first day of election campaigning ahead of next month's parliamentary vote.

But their chances of gaining any significant presence in the lower chamber in the Aug 18 poll are low in a country where the pro-government Nur-Otan party is publicly backed by President Nursultan Nazarbayev and rarely criticised in the media.

Today, leaders of the opposition Social-Democratic party gathered in the shadow of the tower-like independence monument in the financial capital Almaty to lay wreaths and rally support among ordinary Kazakhs.

''We are backed by truth and justice,'' Bolat Abilov, one of the leaders, told a small group of supporters. ''We will get into parliament, form the government and press ahead with reforms Kazakhstan has always dreamt about.'' Analysts predict Nur-Otan will gain a majority in parliament which had only one opposition seat under the previous assembly.

But some observers say Nazarbayev may allow more opposition presence this time to show his commitment to democracy as Kazakhstan seeks to gain rotating chairmanship of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

A parliamentary election had not been due until 2009, but Nazarbayev called an early poll last month to speed the passage of political reforms such as enlarging parliament and giving it additional powers in picking the prime minister.

Seven political parties are taking part in the poll. Seats are voted in through a proportional representation system.

OSCE observers have opened an election observation mission in Kazakhstan, which has never held an election judged free and fair by international monitors including the OSCE.

At the independence monument, built to commemorate student protests ahead of the breakup of the Soviet Union, voters, some wearing t-shirts with opposition logos, shook hands with their leaders and looked defiant despite their small numbers.

''I will vote for the opposition. I have always voted for the opposition,'' said Natalia Denisova, a housewife. ''They have a good team, they are young and dynamic. That is what we need.'' REUTERS PY DS1350