ALMATY, Kazakhstan — Kazakhstan is observing a new holiday lauding President Nursultan Nazarbayev, part of a growing cult of personality around the leader of the sprawling, resource-rich former Soviet republic. The highlight of Saturday's celebration of President's Day, which marks the anniversary of Nazarbayev's first election in 1991, was a carefully choreographed pageant by some 30,000 performers in an arena in the capital Astana, including mass singing and banner-waving. The 72-year-old Nazarbayev exercises extraordinary dominion over Kazakhstan's political life. He receives blanket, praiseful coverage from state news media. — AP
