Ex-Azeri speaker accused of terror plots to run for president

The former speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament, Rasul Guliyev, has confirmed that he will be standing for president in the October elections and has again denied government accusations that he organised instability in the country.

MrGuliyev told the BBC that the allegations that he plotted terrorist attacks from abroad and orchestrated an anti-government propaganda were false.

He said they were typical of a Stalinist regime.

Mr Guliyev resigned in 1996, citing health reasons, and now lives abroad.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service