By Rayhan Demytrie
BBC News, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
**Polls have opened in a presidential election in the Central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan.**There are six candidates running for the top job including the incumbent Kurmanbek Bakiyev.
Kyrgyzstan is the only state in Central Asia to have a so-called colour revolution, when a previous president was removed in a popular uprising.
That happened in 2005, but four years on the country finds itself in a different political environment.
Among the six candidates two are real contenders, Mr Bakiyev and the main opposition candidate, Almazbek Atambayev, who have both been campaigning across the country.
Over 500 international observers are expected to monitor the process.
Out of five million Kyrgyz citizens more than half are eligible voters.
But analysts say the turnout could be low, citing apathy and mistrust of the election process.
Previous polls under Mr Bakiyev have been criticised by international monitors.
The situation contrasts with that of 2005 when he came to power following the so-called Tulip revolution. He won a landslide victory gaining almost 90% of the vote.
But four years on his critics say his government has curbed free speech and become increasingly repressive.
His main opponent Mr Atambayev promises to fight corruption and reduce the president’s powers.
Mr Bakiyev says his policies are aimed at gaining as much as possible for the people of Kyrgyzstan, but it remains one of the poorest economies in the former Soviet Union.