Fugitive Kazakh politician threatens hunger strike

An opposition politician in Kazakhstan, who has taken refuge in the French embassy, says he will go on hunger strike until he receives assurances from the government about his safety.

In an open letter, Galymzhan Zhakiyanov, who is a founder member of the Democratic Choice movement, complained of arbitrary persecution by the Kazakh security services.

He has been sheltering in the French embassy building since Friday, following the issue of a warrant for his arrest on charges of abuse of power while a regional governor in Pavlodar.

The French have asked him to leave, but say he will not be forced to go.

Talks have so far failed to resolve the situation.

The Kazakh government of President Nursultan Nazarbayev says the criminal cases brought against Mr Zhakiyanov and another leader of Democratic Choice Mukhtar Ablyazov, who is in detention, are part of a drive against corruption, and not politically-motivated.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service