The United States State Department has criticised the decision of the Kazakhstan Supreme Court to disqualify one of the main opposition leaders, Akezhan Kazhegeldin, as a candidate in the January presidential election.

The State Department spokesman, James Rubin, said the decision contravenes international commitments that Kazakhstan has taken on as a member of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

He said the action follows a pattern of harassment of independent media and opposition political figures in Kazakhstan in the run up to the election.