Zamanbek Nurkadilov,a former mayor of Alma-Ata and a leading opposition political figure, died on Nov 12. Local media quoted an unnamed law enforcement source as saying he had taken his own life.

Nurkadilov, an opposition politician who had considered running for president had shot himself three times, twice in the chest and once in the head, the source said. He gave family problems as the reason for the suicide.

According to the source, Nurkadilov shot himself in the head after two shots to the chest had failed to end his life.

Other sources in Alma-Ata -- including his widow -- believed that he had been assassinated. They said that, while not himself a presidential candidate, Nurkadilov was a strong voice for the opposition.

Meanwhile, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, who has been in office for 16 years, appeared Sunday to have won a landslide victory.