Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev said on Friday he would sue the leading opposition MSN newspaper for libel, nine days before a tense parliamentary election. Akayev accused the paper of smearing his family with stories about alleged business interests. Akayev's daughter, Bermet, and son, Aidar, are both running for seats in parliament. He said he would reconsider legal action if the paper printed retractions, but a spokeswoman for MSN said the paper had no such plans. MSN has lost several similar court cases in the past but it is the first time Akayev has threatened action.

"The courts will do everything to destroy this newspaper," the MSN spokeswoman said.

The impoverished Central Asian state bordering China and oil-rich Kazakhstan also holds a presidential election this year. Akayev has said he will step down before the ballot.

The prospect of the first post-Soviet handover of power has raised tensions ahead of the parliamentary vote.

The opposition has accused Akayev and his government of using state resources to hinder opposition candidates and muzzle the media.

Copyright Reuters, 2005