One of the main opposition leaders in Kazakhstan, Akezhan Kazhegeldin, says he will stay in politics despite yesterday's court decision to exclude him from the presidentital election in January.

Mr Kazhegeldin said he intended to form a new political party to fight for democracy.

He was considered one of the main challengers to President Nursultan Nazarbayev.

The supreme court had rejected an appeal by Mr Kazhegeldin against his earlier disqualification by the Electoral Commission.