Tokayev re-elected as Kazakh president

ASTANA - Kazakhstan's incumbent president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has been re-elected as the leader of the Central Asian country, preliminary results showed on Monday.

Tokayev won 81.31 percent of about 8.3 million ballots, which were cast by more than 11.95 million registered voters on Sunday, Nurlan Abdirov, chairman of Kazakhstan's Central Election Commission, announced at a press conference.

The presidential election was of historic significance, and will open a new political era, Tokayev said on Monday, adding that the Kazakh authorities will firmly carry out reforms and strive to build a new Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan held a snap presidential race on Sunday, with six candidates, including Tokayev, running for the top job.