Kazakh opposition leader leaves embassy

The French ambassador to Kazakhstan has said that a leading Kazakh opposition figure who has been sheltering in the French embassy for the past six days has now left, and has been placed under house arrest.

The ambassador Serge Smessow said that Galymzhan Zhakiyanov, whose took refuge in the embassy after his arrest was ordered for abuse of power, left of his own free will after he received guarantees from the Kazakh authorities about his treatment.

Mr Zhakiyanov, who is a founding member of the Democratic Choice movement, says he is being persecuted for political reasons.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service