This post is a bit (a lot) overdue, but here it is:

Kyrgyzstan is heating up as the July 10 election approaches. incidents are on the rise, according to EurasiaNet. Much of the chaotic violence seems to be in the southern city of Osh, although the assasination of MP Jyrgalbek Surabaldiyev, a close ally of ex-president Akayev, took place in broad daylight in Bishkek (in the north).

The two leading candidates are interim President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and Feliks Kulov. Both are strong defenders of the overthrow of Akayev, though it remains to be seen how genuine each is. Hopefully north-south issues will not escalate; although both candidates speak of unification, it will be difficult to gauge popular sentiment. Whoever wins will need to take firm control of the government to curb the corruption and organized crime that lead to chaos. It is good to see the Supreme Court back at work; restoring the rule of law should be one of the top priorities of the new government - it seems to be the fastest way out of the current political mess.