As Kazakhstan\'s 20 September nationwide elections to local councils approach, both the opposition and the authorities are complaining of the \"dirty\" campaign practices being employed. Opposition Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DVK) official and Almaty city council candidate Petr Svoik showed a news conference in Almaty a leaflet allegedly written by him, but which he said was actually a provocation by a \"powerful and influential body.\" The leaflet offers to pay for information on people who do not trust the DVK. The head of the public-relations department of the Almaty city police, Colonel Alikhan Bektasov, said the DVK suspects that a major pro-government political party engineered the provocation. He said such dirty tricks are increasing as the election approaches, and the police have set up special groups in every raion to deal with them. The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) issued a statement on 11 September saying the number of complaints it has received about dirty campaign practices has been increasing. (Interfax-Kazakhstan)