ASTANA, Dec. 5 (Xinhuanet) -- The Chinese observers who monitored Sunday's presidential election in Kazakhstan said on Monday that the polls were transparent and fair and that no cases of voting irregularities had been discovered.

    The observers, who oversaw 25 polling stations in the capital Astana, said they found no irregular conduct after the voting process where voters had their identity cards checked, collected ballot papers and cast ballots.

    They also talked to several electoral officials as well as voters, the Chinese observers said in a report.

    Voters participated actively in the election which was conducted in a smooth and orderly way, the report said, adding that the Chinese observers have not received any complaint of irregularities.

    Official preliminary results have showed that Kazakhstan's incumbent President Nursultan Nazarbayev, who first became president in 1991, has gained 91 percent of the votes and won a third seven-year term in office.

    Around 1,600 international observers oversaw the voting on Sunday and and an assessment report is expected later Monday. Enditem