by Tolkun Namatbayeva Agence France-Presse BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (AFP) – Storming through a crowded bazaar in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, presidential candidate Toktayim Umetalieva is in her element, hugging babies and female traders. Unlike the two male contenders viewed as favorites to win the hotly contested presidential election on October 15, 55-year-old Umetalieva is no newcomer to the ballot, but she will be a rank outsider. The combative rights activist first ran for president in 2005, just […]





