UPDATE 2-Kazakhstan to hold June election, Tokayev favourite

Kazakhstan's interim president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, called a snap presidential election for June 9 on Tuesday and looked to be in pole position to continue ruling the oil-rich Central Asian nation. The move gives other potential contenders little time to organise and run campaigns, while the incumbent's ratings are likely to benefit from public sector pay rises in June and other welfare initiatives.

"In order to secure social and political accord, confidently move forward, and deal with socio-economic development tasks, it is necessary to eliminate any uncertainty," Tokayev, 65, said in a televised address to the nation. The former speaker of parliament's upper chamber assumed the presidency last month after the surprise resignation of veteran leader Nursultan Nazarbayev, who had run the ex-Soviet republic for almost three decades.

Nazarbayev, 78, retains sweeping powers in the country of 18 million as the official "national leader", chair of its security council and head of the ruling Nur Otan party. His daughter Dariga, also regarded by analysts as a potential president one day, has replaced Tokayev as Senate speaker. Tokayev has not confirmed he will be standing to continue as president, although that is widely assumed in local political circles. (Reporting by Olzhas Auyezov; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore, Clarence Fernandez and Andrew Cawthorne)

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