Kazakhstan\'s constitutional court has decided that the country\'s presidential election should be held this December. The opposition had campaigned for a December poll, while some government officials had argued that it should be held towards the end of next year. President Nursultan Nazarbayev, who has been in power for more than 15 years, has already said he will stand again. But he could face a greater challenge this time, as analysts say the opposition has become more effective. \"It is the view of the constitutional court that the next election of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan should take place on the first Sunday of December of the year 2005,\" court chairman Ivan Rogov told reporters. The constitutional court\'s decision must be confirmed by parliament. The controversy over the poll\'s timing had centred on different articles of the Kazakh constitution. The opposition had pointed out that article 41 says the presidential term is seven years, and President Nazarbayev\'s present term began in January 1999. But members of the government had stressed that article 94 stipulates that the election should take place on the first Sunday in December following the end of a presidential term - which would set an election date for 3 December 2006. However, the opposition accused advocates of this later date of just playing for more time. Another revolution? Kazakhstan has never held an election judged free and fair by Western observers. President Nazarbayev recently warned of the destabilising effects of importing Western-style democracy too rapidly to Central Asia. His remarks followed a wave of popular uprisings in the region, including neighbouring Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Some observers have suggested this vast oil-rich country could be another candidate for the popular revolutions which have now unseated three post-Soviet presidents. Kazakhstan has the same problems as other countries in the region - of widespread corruption and an elite which has grown very rich through shady business practices. But life for many people in Kazakhstan has actually been improving, partly because of massive foreign investment in Caspian Sea oil, and this has blunted the demand for rapid political change. (BBC)