A group of prominent writers and scientists in Kazakhstan say they plan to try to set up a new party the National party of Kazakhstan to contest parliamentary elections later this year.

The announcement comes just a day after the organisers of President Nursultan Nazarbayev re-election campaign said they would also be setting up a new party, called Otan, or fatherland to be led by Mr Nazarbayev, to contest the parliamentary polls as well as the next presidential elections in 2006.

Following his re-election on Sunday, Mr Nazarbayev promised to increase the role of political parties.